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Book ___Az_XSA 
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COBCRICHT DEPOStr. 



PRICE 35 CENTS 



CLOSING DAY 
ENTERTAINMENTS 




P^CICLEY-CARDY COMPAj^ 

"••■SHERS CHIC*"* 



SUPPLEMENTARY READERS 

FOR ALL GRADES 

BOW-WOW AND MEW-MEW 
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the style, and the moral are all good. 

32 illustrations in colors. 95 pages. Cloth. Price, 45 cents 

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By Joseph C. Sindelar 
Nixie Bunny in Manners-Land — A Rabbit Story of Good Manners 
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Evangeline — Longfellow — Grades 6-8 
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Snow-Bound and Other Poems — Whittier— Grades 6-8 
Enoch Arden — Tennyson — Grades 6-H. S. 

The Vision of Sir Launfal and Other Poems — Lowell — Grades 6-H. S. 
The Rime of the Ancient Mariner — Coleridge — Grades 7-H. S. 
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BECKLEY-CARDY CO. Publishers CHICAGO 



CLOSING DAY 
ENTERTAINMENTS 



EDITED BY 

JOSEPH C^f INDELAR 

AUTHOR OF 

Father Thrift and His Animal Friends 

Morning Exercises for All the Year 

Merry Christmas Entertainments 

The Best Thanksgiving Book 

The ''Nixie Bunnif Books 

The Best Christmas Book 

Best Memory Gems 



BECKLEY-CARDY COMPANY 
CHICAGO 



-'S 



Copyright, 1920, by 
JOSEPH C. SINDELAR 



JEC 31 1920 
©CU608066 



Special thanks are due Marie Irish for much of the 
material furnished. Grateful acknowledgments are 
also made for selections which have been gathered 
from numerous sources. — J. C. S. 






i 



CONTENTS 

RECITATIONS AND READINGS 

PAGE 

Boy's Composition on Breathing, A 45 

Boy's Song, A James Hogg 29 

Builders, The Henry W. Longfellow 32 

Close of a Pleasant Term, The Marie Irish 19 

"Did You Pass?*' 21 

Examinations 30 

Glad Vacation, A H. C, Bacon 20 

GooD-BY Little Desk 9 

Graduation Essay, A H. C. Dodge 42 

Graduation's Promise Salena Sheets Martin 41 

"I Got to go to School" Nixon Waterman 13 

In School and Out 14 

Johnny's Pa 21 

June Susie M. Best 26 

June Morning Lesson, A Julia M. Dana 8 

Keeping Holiday 12 

Knee-Deep in June James Whitcomd Riley 10 

Las' Day of School, The Willard Wattles 35 

Lesson of the Acorn, The 39 

Little Things 31 

Merry Thought, A Anna M, Pratt 8 

Mrs. June's Prospectus Susan Coolidge 27 

Newfangled Schools 25 

Purpose Charles R, Barrett 34 

Quotations 46 

Resting Time 38 

ScHOOL-BooKS Out of Date Tom McBeath 16 

Schoolroom I Love the Best, The Katherine Lee Bates 33 

School Year is Over, The 30 

3 



4 , CONTENTS 

^ PAGK 

Spring Opinions Abtie L. Merrim^n 17 

Sterilized Country School J, W, FoH\j 23 

Summer is Here 12 

Summer's Call 26 

Sweet June Time, The Mary D. Brine 14 

Till Vacation 10 

Vacation Yirginia Baker 7 

Vacation Jennie D. Moore 19 

Vacation Marie Irish 43 

Vacation Days 7 Anna M. Pratt 15 

Vacation is Coming Marie Irish 7 

Vacation-Time 40 

What They Taught Me .Eva R. Mann 24 

Willie's Resolve Marie Irish 11 



WELCOMES AND FAREWELLS 

Closing Verse ' 57 

Farewell , 57 

GtOOd-By 56 

GIood-By 57 

GtOOd-By! Marie Irish 60 

Good-By, a M. L. Stanley 58 

Greeting 51 

I Bid You All a Welcome Edith F. A. TJ. Painton 55 

Opening Speech Priscilla J. Owens 50 

Two Little Welcoisies 53 

Valedictory 58 

Valedictory, A A. F. Shoals 61 

Valedictory Poem 59 

Welcome 49 

Welcome Edith Everhard 50 

W-e-l-c-o-m-e 52 

Welcome, Friends By E. S, F. 53 

WELCO^rE Speech 49 

Welcome to Our Schoolroom 51 



CONTENTS 5 

DIALOGUES AND EXERCISES 

PAGE 

Best Places, The. Three boys and five girls 78 

Close of School, The. Marching song for twelve (more or 

less) children Marie Irish 99 

Crowning of June, The. Any number of children 

Mrs. C. H, Stanley 66 

GooD-BY TO THE PupiLS. Any number of boys and girls 

; Alvin M. Hendee 80 

In Vacation Time. Two girls and three hoys. , .Marie Irish 64 

Mary Lou's Recitation. Five girls and two hoys..Marie Irish 83 

Our Confessions. Six children 74 

Our Work. Five girls E. L. Brown 97 

Spending Vacations. One girl and two boys Marie Irish 76 

Tired Books, The. Six children Marie Irish 68 

Vacation Fun. Any number of boys and girls 71 

Vacation Joys. Ten girls and ten boys 92 

Vacation Plans. Three boys and three girls 63 

What the Lessons Say. Seven children. . .Lizzie M. Hadley 89 



SONGS AND MUSIC 

Approach of Vacation Lettie E, Sterling 103 

Beautiful Hours, Golden Hours ! 114 

Education S, F. Smith 107 

GooD-BY W. 0. Gushing 114 

GooD-BY TO Lessons 105 

GooD-BY TO School Marie Irish 110 

Graduates' Song John R. Dennis 112 

Graduation Song George Cooper 117 

Hail, Vacation! 106 

Last Day of School, The 108 

Now Our School is Over 116 

One Heart — One Way Ella M. Beach 113 

Our Glad Vacation Ada Simpson Shertvood 115 

Vacation Glee 120 

Vacation's Call Marie Irish 105 



6 CONTENTS 

PAGE 

Vacation 's Here 109 

Vacation Time 122 

Vacation Time is Coming 118 

Welcome Song 103 

Woodland Voices Calling Alice M. Kellogg 111 

Class Mottoes 123 

A Suggestive Program 125 



Closing Day Entertainments 

RECITATIONS AND READINGS 

VACATION IS COMING 
Marie Irish 

No ting-a-ling-ding 

"Will the school bell ring — 

Vacation is coining to town, 
Bringing hours of joy- 
To each girl and boy, 

And chasing away every frown. 

No ting-a-ling-ding 
As merry birds sing, 

And flowers bloom bright 'neath the sun; 
O'er meadow and hill 
We '11 race with a will — 

Hurrah for long hours of fun ! 

VACATION 
Virginia Baker 

Vacation is a pleasant time, 

We put aside our books 
To ramble in the greenwood, cool. 

To rest in meadow nooks ; 

7 



CLOSING DAY ENTERTAINMENTS 

To ran and jump, to row and swim, 
From lesson cares all free. 

Yes, very, very pleasant is 
Vacation time to me. 



A MERRY THOUGHT 

Anna M. Pratt 

If all the little children dear, 

Who are glad vacation days are here, 

Should stand in a line, with their books and slates. 

They 'd reach across the United States. 

And then, if they counted — one, two, three — 

And laughed, what a long laugh 't would be ! 



A JUNE MORNING LESSON 

Julia M. Dana 

Twice one are two 
Prairie roses, brushing through 
My window, all cool with dew. 
Twice one are two. 

Twice two are four 
Bees a-humming round the door- 
Calling others by the score. 
Twice two are four. 

Twice three are six 

Pansy beds their colors mix ; 

See the mother hen and chicks — 

Twice three are six. 



RECITATIONS AND READINGS 

Twice four are eight; 
Georgeous butterflies, elate, 
Dancing, poising, delicate, 
Twice four are eight. 

Twice five are ten 
Sweetest strains from yonder glen, 
Echoed o'er and o'er again, 
Twice five are ten. 

Twice six are twelve 
Merry maidens of the year — 
Some in snowy gowns appear, 
Some in gold and silver sheer, 
Yet the fairest is, I ween, 
Dainty June in pink and green. 



GOOD-BY, LITTLE DESK 

Good-by, little desk at school, good-by! 

I 'm off to the fields and the open sky. 

The peals of the brook and the woodland bells 

Are ringing us out to the vales and the dells; 

To meadows fair and hillsides cool — 

Good-by, little desk at school. 

Good-by, little desk at school, good-by! 

Though now I 'm as gay as a butterfly. 

Yet I shall come back in the fall, you know. 

As happy to come as I am to go. 

So, with ever a laugh, and never a sigh — 

Good-by, little desk at school, good-by! 



10 CLOSING DAY ENTERTAINMENTS 

TILL VACATION 

Johnny is counting his little brown fingers: 
' ' Five more days; then school will be done ! 

Then all the long day I '11 do nothing but play — 
And oh ! won 't that be fun ! ' ' 

And so he keeps counting the days on his fingers : 
^^Four more days — and then what fun! 

The woods and brooks will be nicer than books, 
When all the lessons are done." 

Still he is counting his little fat fingers: 
^ ' Three more days, and school will be done ! 

Then hey for my pole and my fish hooks and all 
The picnics and swimming and fun ! ' ' 

Now he is counting his thumb and one finger: 
' ' Two more days, and then such fun ! 

Then I can play in grandpa's new hay, 
And roll and caper and run." 

Now there is left but one little finger: 
^^One more day — just one, just one! 

Oh! how I shall shout when school is let out! 
Hurrah ! hurrah for the fun ! ' ' 



KNEE-DEEP IN JUNE 

James Whitcomb Riley 

Tell you what I like the best — 
'Long about knee-deep in June, 

'Bout the time strawberries melts 
On the vine — some afternoon 



RECITATIONS AND READINGS H 

Like to jes' git out an' rest, 

An' not work at nothin' else! 

Orchard 's where I 'd ruther be — 
Needn't fence it in fer me! — 

Jes' the whole sky overhead 
And the whole airth underneath — 
Sorto' so 's a man kin breathe 

Like he ort, and kindo ' has 

Elbow room to keerlessly 

Sprawl out lengthways on the grass, 

Where the shadders, thick and soft, 

As the kivvers on the bed 

Mother fixes in the loft 
AUers, when they 's company. 



WILLIE'S EESOLVE 

Marie Irish 

didn't spend her time a-lookin' 



Out the windows at who 's passin' by. 

Or gazin ' round the room to see what 's bein ' done ; 

But on 'er book she kep' a busy eye — 

An' say, I guess that must be 

Why she learned more 'n me ! 

2 didn't whisper to them a-settin' nigh. 



An' draw pictures fer the rest to see, 
Ner shoot paper wads an' eat apples on the sly; 
He was good like a feller oughter be — 
An' say, I '11 bet four to three 
That 's why he learned more 'n me ! 

ilnsert name of some girl in school. 
2lnsert name of some boy in school. 



12 CLOSING DAY ENTERTAINMENTS 

An' now that it is time fer school to close 
I wish I hadn't done sech things as those; 
Next year I 'm a-goin' to be jest awful good, 
An ' study like a sens 'ble feller should — 
An' say, when vacation comes you '11 see 
The rest ain 't learned more 'n me ! 



SUMMER IS HERE 

Summer is here, the gem of the year; 
The brooklet flowing along. 
With sweet and merry song. 
The wild bees buzz and hum, 
Vacation soon will come. 

^^ Summer is here," the robins sing clear, 
The flowers nod in glee, 
*^Come out," they say to me. 
After my work is done. 
Then comes vacation's fun. 

KEEPING HOLIDAY 

The readers and the spellers, 

The pencils and the slates, 
The books that hold the figures, 

The books that tell the dates, 
The crayons and the blackboards, 

And the maps upon the wall, 
Must all be glad together. 

For they won't be used till fall. 

They 've had to work live beavers 

To help the children learn. 
And if they want a little rest, 

It surely is their turn. 



RECITATIONS AND READINGS 13 

They shut their leaves with pleasure, 

The dear old lesson books, 
And the crayons and the blackboards 

Put on delighted looks. 

So, children, just remember. 

When you are gone away, 
Your poor old slates and pencils 

Are keeping holiday. 
The readers and the spellers 

Are as proud as proud can be, 
When the boys forsake the schoolroom 

And the teacher turns the key. 



"I GOT TO GO TO SCHOOL" 

Nixon Waterman 

I 'd like to hunt the Injuns, 'an roam the boundless plain ; 
I 'd like to be a pirate, and plow the ragin ' main, 
An' capture some big island, in lordly pomp to rule; 
But I just can't be nothin, 'cause I 've got to go to school. 

Most all great men, so I have read, has been the ones 'at got 
The least amount o' learning by a flickerin' pitch-pine knot; 
An' many a darin' boy like me grows up to be a fool, 
An' never amounts to nothin', 'cause he 's got to go to 
school. 

I don't see how my parents can make the big mistake 
0' keepin' down a boy like me 'at's got his name to make! 
It ain't no wonder boys is bad an' balky as a mule; 
Life ain 't worth livin ' if you 've got to waste your time 
in school. 



14 CLOSING DAY ENTERTAINMENTS 

What good is 'rithmetic an' things, exceptin' just fer girls, 
Or them there Fauntleroys 'at wears their hair in twisted 

curls, 
And if my name is never seen on History's page, why, you'll 
Eemember 'at it 's all because I got to go to school. 



THE SWEET JUNE TIME 
Mary D. Brine 

The daisies and the buttercups 

Now merrily are growing; 
And everywhere, for June's sweet sake, 

Are crimson roses blowing. 
The sunbeams o'er the meadows lie. 

And breezes light are straying; 
And oh! 't is time the schools were done, 

And children out a-playing. 

*^ Vacation is the time for fun," 

All girls and boys are saying, 
When schools and books grow wearisome 

And hearts are ripe for playing. 
So, little folks, come one and all. 

And tumble out together, 
Amid the sunbeam's golden light, 

All in the sweet June weather. 

IN SCHOOL AND OUT 

Now when a fellow 's got to wait 

In school with pencil and with slate— 

A-multiplying ; 
His head it aches, his back it breaks, 
Who cares what 3x7 makes? 



RECITATIONS AND READINGS 15 

^Cause Johnny 's gone to dig the bait, 
And time is a-flying. 

But when a fellow gets outdoors, 
A catching trout by threes and fours, 

In fishing season; 
If he gets three, and Johnny, he 
Gets seven times as many — see? 
It 's easy, then, to keep the scores — 

Now, what 's the reason ? 



VACATION DAYS 

Anna M. Pratt 

The school bell rings with a cheerful sound 
To hasten the slow, late comer. 

' ' To-morrow we '11 play, ' ' 

It seems to say, 

^^ Hurrah for the first vacation day! 
Hurrah for a merry summer ! ' ' 

The faithful bell, now the school is done, 
Must pause in its daily swinging; 

Does it miss the noise 

Of the girls and boys. 

And long to echo vacation joys, 
With a peal of its wildest ringing? 

Soon over the country, far and wide. 
There are ripples of happy laughter, 

For the children know 

Where the berries grow. 

Where the purling streams through the meadows flow, 
And the hurrying brooks speed after. 



14 



16 CLOSING DAY ENTERTAINMENTS 



Thej^'know where the mountains lift their heads, 
^ By the great sky curtain bounded, 

^ And their voices leap 

To the craggy steep 
^ And wake the echoes from out their sleep, 

^ With shouts that are thrice resounded. 

They know where the sea lies blue and calm, 
In the bright mid-summer weather. 
As they love to stand 
On the shining sand, 

Where the tide rolls up — and then hand in hand, 
To plunge in the wave together. 

They love to loiter in leafy woods. 
And list to the squirrel's scolding. 

As they climb to a seat, 

Near his safe retreat, 

Or fall on a couch, all spicy sweet, 
Of feathery ferns unfolding. 

But by and by, in the autumn days, 
Ere the bee has deserted the clover, 
When the sound of the bell 
Shall rise and swell, 

Will the little folk laugh — now who can tell — 
To hear that vacation is over? 



SCHOOL-BOOKS OUT OF DATE 

Tom McBeath 

''Where ai^ you going, my pretty maidT' 

'' I 'm going to school, if you please, sir/' she said. 

''And what do you learn there, my pretty, fair maid?'* 

"Why, how to make pretty things, sir/' she said; 



RECITATIONS AND READINGS 17 

■ #• 
*^We weave little baskets of willow twigs; 
We fashion nice clay into cute little pigs; 
We plait just the prettiest mats ever seen, 
All criss-crossed in blue, red, yellow, and green; 
We sew little patches on sweet little squares, 
And make, out of toothpicks and peas, little chairs; 
We draw and we paint, we sing and we play, 
And then w^e Ve a new fairy story each day. ' ' 
^^But where are your books, my pretty, fair maid?" 
^ ' We have no use for them, sir, ' ' she said. 
^^Then how do you study, my pretty, fair maid?" 
*^Why, where have you come from, sir?'' she said, 
^^To ask such a question! Humph! even a fool 
Knows nobody studies these days at school. 
Our teachers have found us an easier way; 
We Ve learning by doing, sir. Good-day I ' ' 



SPRING OPINIONS 
Abbie L. Merriman 

You know how awful tickled 

We were when school begun. 
We 'd had a boss vacation, 

The greatest heaps of fun, 
But thought that there was nothing 

Would seem one half so fine 
As seeing all the scholars 

Forming once more in line. 

'T was ^^ left-right/^ all a-marching 
To take their seats once more. 

But we were * ' off our trolley ; " 
For study is a bore, 



18 CLOSING DAY ENTERTAINMENTS 

And Gr'og'aphy and Spelling 

Ain't any use at all. 
I tell you things seem different 

'N they did in early fall. 



My goodness ! How we 're working ; 

The heaps of things we do. 
And then to hear the grown folks, — 

As if they thought 't was true — 
Say, ^ * School-time is the happiest 

You ever have at all." 
P'raps, 'tis, but things seem diff 'rent 

'N they did in early fall. 



The grown folks is mistaken, 

It 's plain as plain can be. 
They 've had a long vacation — 

Got fooled the same as we. 
For 't ain't no use denying, 

School tires both short and tall, 
And things look mighty diff 'rent 

'N they did in early fall. 



And now it 's most vacation, 

The school year 's almost done. 
My goodness ! But we 're tickled. 

And we '11 have just heaps of fun. 
There 's Fourth of July ; and fishing; 

"We '11 swim ; and we '11 play ball. 
And I bet you we '11 be sorry. 

When school begins next fall. 



RECITATIONS AND READINGS 19 

VACATION 

Jennie D. Moore 
.Recitation for a very little girl; 

I 'm glad vacation is coming, 

The happiest time of the year, 
The time of joy and gladness, 

To children's hearts so dear. 

No more lessons to study, 

Nothing to do but play; 
Out of sight and forgotten, 

We '11 put our books away. 

We '11 say ^'good-by'' to our teachers, 

Our teachers kind and true ; 
I think they like to see us play, 

All summer long — don't you? 

The little birds in the tree-tops 

Are not more glad than we. 
When we roam thro ' flowery meadows, 

So happy and so free. 

We '11 play in the long deep grasses. 

Under a bright blue sky ; 
Where daisies grow, and the brook below, 

Sings a song as it hurries by. 

THE CLOSE OF A PLEASANT TERM 
Marie Irish 

When we come to the close of a pleasant term. 

And vacation smiles close by. 
When tests all are over and books neatly packed 

On neglected shelves to lie, 



20 CLOSING DAY ENTERTAINMENTS 

"What joy it brings as we think of the hours 

In the schoolroom toiling spent, 
When we struggled with grammar and history, 

Or ciphered with grave intent. 

When we come to the close of a pleasant term, 

And school with its tasks is o'er, 
What a joy to think of the hours well spent 

In learning lessons galore. 
We are glad we were faithful and diligent, 

And buckled down to our work, 
For the close of school brings both shame and regret 

To him who has been a shirk. 

When we come to the close of a pleasant term, 

And teacher and pupils must part, 
What a joy to those who have minded the rule 

And worked with a loyal heart; 
Of little account are the hours misspent. 

Worthless the moments of fun; 
The happy vacation 's for pupils who have 

The mem'ry of tasks well done. 



A GLAD VACATION 
H. C. Bacon 

In summer when the skies are fair, 

And everything rejoices, 
Within these walls our friends we greet 

With joyous hearts and voices ; 
Once more we gather, one and all. 

In our accustomed places, 
And you may read a welcome true 

Upon our happy faces. 



RECITATIONS AND READINGS 21 

And as the holidays draw nigh, 

One thing let iis remember. 
There 's work enough for young and old, 

In June or in December ; 
Let us consider, ere we fill 

Our days with recreation, 
That kindly acts for others done 

"Will make a glad vacation. 



^^DID YOU PASS?" 

What do you think the daisies said, — 

The laughing, swaying mass, — 
To-day as from ''exams'' I came, 

''Louisa, did you passT' 
Then all the clover blooms called out, 

Like children in a class, 
And these were just the words they said, 

^'Louisa, did you pass?'' 

Out rang the winds, out sang the birds, 

Out spoke the tall June grass. 
The merry brook paused just to ask, 

"Louisa, did you pass?" 
I hurried home to shut them out. 

And there I found — alas — 
Mamma and grandma, and they said, 

"Louisa, did you pass?" 

JOHNNY'S PA 

My pa he always went to school. 

He says an' studied hard. 
Wy, when he 's just as old as me, 

He knew things bv the varcl ! 



22 CLOSING DAY ENTERTAINMENTS 

Arithmetic ? he knew it all, 

From dividend to sum, 
But when he tells me how it was, 

My grandma she says ' ' hum ! ' ' 



My pa he always got the prize 

For never bein' late, 
An' when they studied joggerfy, 

He knew 'bout every state. 
He says he knew the rivers an' 

Knew all their outs and ins, 
But when he tells us all of that 

My grandma she just grins. 

My pa he never missed a day 

A-goin'.to the school, 
An ' never played no hookey nor 

Forgot the teacher 's rule ; 
An ' ev 'ry class he 's ever in 

The rest he always led. 
My grandma when pa talks that way 

Just laughs and shakes her head. 

My grandma say 'at boys is boys. 

The same as pas is pas. 
An' when I ast her what she means 

She says it is ''because." 
She says 'at little boys is best 

When they grow up to men, 
Because they know how good they were 

An' tell their children then. 

'^^Baltimore American 



RECITATIONS AND READINGS 23 

STERILIZED COUNTRY SCHOOL 
J. W. Foley 

The walls and the ceiling they 're spraying ; 

They 're scrubbing the woodwork and floors ; 
A stream on the blackboard is playing 

They 're boiling the desks and the doors ; 
The old water-pail has been scalded, 

A cup for each lassie and lad; 
And no one may drink, as we all did, 

From that old tin dipper we had. 

They 've cleansed every pointer and ferule ; 

The ink-wells are scrubbed out with lye ; 
The books and the slates are made sterile ; 

The old well is filled up and dry; 
The girls have to wear willy-nilly, 

A button which bears this bold sign: 
^^The lips that touch germs or bacilli 

Are lips that will never touch mine." 

The dunce-cap is boiled every morning ; 

(They've the individual kind!) 
The front door is set with this warning: 

'^"Who enters here leaves germs behind." 
No apple is smuggled for sharing, 

As was in the schooldays of yore, 
Until they 've made sterile the paring 

And quite disinfected the core. 

Alas! The old pump is discarded 

And gone in the flight of the years ; 
The new drinking-fountain is guarded 

Bv the Anti-Germ Grenadiers. 



24 CLOSING DAY ENTERTAINMENTS 

The vines from the windows they 're stripping 
Lest germ-breeding insects might stay; 

The eaves and the rafters are dripping, 
All wet with a sterilized spray. 

Oh, come, in the joy of the morning, 

What secrets of schooldays we '11 tell ! 
That thick, rising vapor gives warning 

That teacher is boiling the bell. 
It 's time for the B class in scrubbing ; 

The A class is set out to cool 
From its recent boiling and rubbing — 

Three cheers for the sterilized school! 



WHAT THEY TAUGHT ME 

Eva R. Mann 

As I was walking out one day, 

I heard a brooklet o 'er the way, 

And as it swiftly flowed along, 

It sang a cheery little song. 

And then unto myself I said, 

^*You should be 'shamed, you stupid head! 

Learn a lesson from this brook 

And sing with pleasure o'er your book." 

I saw a little ant at toil, 

She, grain by grain, brought up the soil, 

From her nest deep in the ground, 

And built a lovely little mound. 

And then unto myself I said, 

'^If you would ever earn your bread, 

Learn your tasks to never shirk, 

But like this ant to love your work." 



RECITATIONS AND READINGS 25 

I saw a little bee one morn, 
Buzzing o'er the white hawthorn, 
And there he worked the livelong day, 
And never stopped to sleep or play. 
And then unto myself I said, 
' ' Why should I waste my time in bed ? 
While bees get honey from the flowers, 
I '11 gather knowledge through the hours." 



NEWFANGLED SCHOOLS 

They taught him how to hemstitch and they taught him 

how to sing, 
And how to make a basket out of variegated string, 
And how to fold a paper so he wouldn't hurt his thumb, 
They taught a lot to Bertie, but he 

could n 't 

do a 

sum. 

They taught him how to mould the head of Hercules in 

clay, 
And how to tell the diff 'rence 'twixt the bluebird and the 

jay, 
And how to sketch a horsie in a little picture frame, 
But strangely they forgot to teach him 

^ how to 

spell his 

name. 

Now Bertie's pa was cranky, and he went one da^^ to find 
What 't was they did that made his son so backward in the 
mind, 



26 CLOSING DAY ENTERTAINMENTS 

^^I don't want Bertie wrecked," he cried, his temper far 

from cool, 
' ' I want him educated ! " so he 

took him 

out of 

school. 

JUNE 
Susie M. Best 

Oh, ho ! it is June, and the rills rush gladly, 
The grass on the hills grows emerald green ; 

The thrushes carol their matins madly 

In the spreading trees where their nests are seen. 

Oh, ho ! it is June, and the blushing roses 

Blossom lavishly everywhere ; 
The butterfly to the bee proposes 

A merry race in the radiant air 

Oh, ho ! it is June, and a scene of splendor 

Smiles serene in the blue above; 
Ah, life is sweet and our hearts are tender, 

For June is the month we dearest love. 



SUMMER'S CALL 

Hail that long awaited day. 
When the school books laid away, 
All the thoughts of merry youngsters turn from pages back 
to play, 
Done with lessons and with rule. 
Done with teacher and with school, 
Turn the vagrant hearts of childhood to the tempting wood 
and pool. 



RECITATIONS AND READINGS 27 

Hear the green woods laugh and call, 
Through the summer until fall, 
^ We are waiting, waiting, waiting, with a welcome for you 
all." 
Hear the lads send back the cry, 
With an echo shrill and high : 
^We are coming, coming, coming, for vacation time is 
nigh. ' ' 



MRS. JUNE'S PROSPECTUS 

Susan Coolidge 

Mrs. June is ready for school, 

Presents her kind regard. 
And for her measures and rule, 

Refers to the following 

Card: 

To parents and friends: Mrs. June 
Of the firm of Summer & Sun, 

Announces the opening of her school, 
Established in the year one. 

An unlimited number received ; 

There is nothing at all to pay; 
All that is asked is a merry heart. 

And time enough to be gay. 

The Junior Class will bring, 

In lieu of all supplies. 
Eight little fingers and two little thumbs. 

For the making of pretty sand pies. 



28 CLOSING DAY ENTERTAINMENTS 

The Senior Class, a mouth 
For strawberries and cream. 

A nose apiece for a rose apiece 
And a tendency to dream. 

The lectures are thus arranged: 

Professor Cherry Tree 
Will lecture to the climbing class, 

Terms of instruction free. 

Professor De Forest Spring 
Will take the class on Drink; 

And the class in titillation, 
Sage Mr. Bobolink. 

Young Mr. Oxeye Daisy 
Will demonstrate each day 

On Botany, on native plants, 
And the properties of hay. 

Miss Nature the class in fruit, 
(A charming class to teach) ; 

The swinging class and the bird-nest class, 
Miss Hickory and Miss Beach. 

And the sleepy class at night, 
And the dinner class at noon. 

And the fat and laugh and roses class, 
They fall to Mrs. June. 

And she hopes her little friends 
Will be punctual as the sun ; 

For the term, alas ! is very short, 
And she wants them, every one. 



RECITATIONS AND READINGS 29 

A BOY'S SONG 

(Recitation for a boy^ 
James Hogg 

Where the pools are bright and deep, 
Where the gray trout lies asleep, 
Up the river and o'er the lea, 
That 's the way for Billy and me. 

Where the blackbird sings the latest, 
Where the hawthorn blooms the sweetest, 
Where the nestlings chirp and flee, 
That 's the way for Billy and me. 

Where the mowers mow the cleanest, 
Where th6 hay lies thick and greenest, 
There to trace the homeward bee, 
That 's the way for Billy and me. 

Where the hazel bank is steepest. 
Where the shadow falls the deepest, 
Where the clustering nuts fall free, 
That 's the way for Billy and me. 

Why the boys should drive away 
Little sweet maidens from their play, 
Or love to banter and fight so well, 
That's the thing I never could tell. 

But this I know, I love to play 
Through the meadow, among the hay, 
Up the river and o 'er the lea. 
That 's the way for Billy and me. 



30 CLOSING DAY ENTERTAINMENTS 

THE SCHOOL YEAR IS OVER 
♦ Recitation for a boy i 

The school year is over and books are laid by 

For a while. We are happy to-day, 
For, talk as you will, every boy, same as I, 

• Is glad for a brief holiday. 
Though we love all our books and our dear teacher too, 

We love the vacation the more,— 
And won't it be jolly with nothing to do 

But to play all the time out-of-door? 

We 11 miss all our playmates, with all of their fun, 

We 11 miss the glad sound of the bell. 
That called us to duty — my ! how we would run 

Everyone in our schoolhouse can tell. 
There 11 surely be some heartaches we 11 have to endure, 

When we think of our great games of ball. 
Since thinking it over, I 'm not very sure 

But school is the best, after all. 

EXAMINATIONS 

The other night I went to bed. 
But not to sleep, for my poor head 
Was filled up with aia awful dread — 
Examinations ! 

I thought of this and then of that ; 
Of set and sit — which goes with sat — 
I fear my brain has turned to fat — 
Examinations ! 

Next came the base and rate per cent. 
Of money to an agent lent 



RECITATIONS AND READINGS 31 

And what the rule with each one went — 
Examinations! 

Then my lessons I tried to spell, 
Which calls for two, and which one, "l.'^ 
Oh, my poor brain ! I cannot tell ! — 
Examinations ! 

Where is Cape Cod, and where Pekin? 
Where do the rivers all begins 
A high per cent. I cannot win ! — 
Examinations ! 

Who was John Smith; what did he do? 
And all the other fellows, too? 
Yon must tell me — I can't tell you — 
Examinations ! 

Oh, welcome sleep, at last it came, 
But not to rest me all the same, 
For in my dreams I played this game — 
Examinations ! 



LITTLE THINGS 

One small stone upon the other, 

And the highest wall is laid ; 
One wee- stitch and then another, 

And the largest garment 's made ; 
Many tiny drops of water 

Make the mighty river flow ; 
One short second, then another, 

And the ages come and go. 



32 CLOSING DAY ENTERTAINMENTS 

Place one bit of useful knowledge 

On another tiny mite ; 
Keep on adding, time will make them 

Shine with wisdom's burning light. 
Each small act of perseverance 

Nerves you to some greater deed ; 
From one little act of forethought 

Often greatest works proceed. 



THE BUILDERS 
Henry W. Longfellow 

All are architects of Pate, 
"Working in these walls of Time; 

Some with massive deeds and great, 
Some with ornaments of rhyme. 

Nothing useless is, or low ; 
Each thing in its place is best; 

And what seems but idle show 
Strengthens and supports the rest. 

In the elder days of art. 
Builders wrought with greatest care 

Each minute and unseen part; 
For the Gods see everywhere. 

Let us do our work as well. 
Both the unseen and the seen; 

Make the house, where Gods may dwell, 
Beautiful, entire, and clean. 

Else our lives are incomplete 
Standing in these walls of Time, 



RECITATIONS AND READINGS 33 

Broken stairways, where the feet 
Stumble as they seek to climb. 

Build to-day, then, strong and sure, 
With a firm and ample base; 

And ascending and secure 
Shall to-morrow" find its place. 

Thus alone can we attain 
To these turrets, where the eye 

Sees the world as one vast plain, 
And one boundless reach of sky. 



THE SCHOOLROOM I LOVE THE BEST 

Katherine Lee Bates 

I have closed my books and hidden my slate, 
And thrown my satchel across the gate. 
My school is out for a season of rest, 
And now for the schoolroom I love the best. 

My schoolroom lies in the meadow wide, 
"Where, under the clover, the sunbeams hide; 
Where the long vines cling to the mossy bars, 
And the daisies twinkle like fallen stars ; 

Where clusters of buttercups gild the scene, 
Like showers of gold-dust thrown over the green. 
And the wind's flying footsteps are traced as they pass, 
By the dance of the sorrel and dip of the grass. 

My lessons are written in clouds and trees, 
And no one whispers, except the breeze. 



34 CLOSING DAY ENTERTAINMENTS 

Who sometimes blows from a secret place 
A stray, sweet blossom against my face. 

My school-bell rings in the rippling stream, 
"Which hides itself, like a schoolboy's dream. 
Under the shadow and out of sight. 
But laughing still for its own delight. 

My schoolmates there are the birds and bees, 
And the saucy squirrel, more dull than these, 
For he only learns, in all the weeks, 
How many chestnuts will fill his cheeks. 

My teacher is patient, and never yet 
A lesson of hers did I once forget ; 
For wonderful lore do her lips impart, 
And all her lessons are learned by heart. 

come ! come ! or we shall be late, 
And autumn will fasten the golden gate. 
Of all the schoolrooms, in east or west. 
The school of nature I love the best. 



PURPOSE 
Charles R. Barrett 

I asked the blushing rose 

What trust it would perform, 

With breath the sweetest known, replied: 
*' Perfume the air of morn.'' 

I asked a pearly spring, 

To reveal to me its plan, 
Unconscious of its worth, replied: 

''To quench the thirst of man." 



RECITATIONS AND READINGS 35 

I asked a child of ten 

What he would do or be. 
With a look of unconcern, replied : 

^^When I get old, I'll see." 

The rose and spring knew well 

Their purpose and their sphere; 
To perfume sweet the air, 

The parching lips to cheer. 

I hold the maxim true, 

Reward awaits the man 
Who labors with a will. 

And with a fixed plan. 

Success does not arise 

From plaudits or acclaim, 
'T is the fruit of labor 

Directed to an aim. 

Place high your aim at once, 

Think not the future lost ; 
Resolve to hit the mark, 

And never count the cost. 



THE LAS' DAY OF SCHOOL 

WiLLARD Wattles 

Long about in April when the dandelions is thick 

An' lucky-bugs begin to skate up an' down on Shaller 

Crick, 
An' old mare Madge begins to shed the patches from her 

hide, 
An' down among the wilier trees us boys has fixed a slide, 



36 CLOSING DAY ENTERTAINMENTS 

Where the clay ain't quite too snaggy, fer to set around a 

spell 
Durin' noon hour till Miss Simpson rings the five minute 

warnin' bell, 
Oh, it 's then a lazy feelin' comes a-stealin' slow an' cool, 
Fer ye know you Ve purt nigh come 
to 

the las' 

day 

of school. 

An' then some shinin' mornin' when you 've had a bit of 

rain, 
You wear your store-bought necktie an' you take the road 

from Bayne, 
An' the boys are play in' blackman, an' the girls are some- 
how dressed 
Sort of conscious-like an' pretty, like that day wan't like 

the rest ; 
An ' there is Lucius Elvin an ' Weaver Nelson, too. 
An' Joe an' Roy an' Willie actin' like he orter do, 
An' we don't have no fights that day, an' we minds the 

Golden Rule, 
Fer you know you 're all together 
fer 

the las' 

day 

of school. 

An' jes' fore noon Miss Simpson stops an' sets there in her 

cheer 
Till you could almost hear a pin drop an you're feelin' 

kinda queer, 
An' she says, ''We '11 put the books up, an' not study any 

more ..." 



RECITATIONS AND READINGS 37 

An' jes' then you hear a buggy an' it stops in front the 

door, 
An ' sure enough it 's dinner come, an ' all the country folks 
A-crowdin' thru the doorway an' a-crackin' funny jokes, 
An' sudden-like some feller brays jes' like old Wiebe's 

mule 
An' hollers out, ^^Now grace is sed, 
on 

the las' 

day 

school. ' ' 

An' pretty soon the speakin' comes, an' Myrtle tries to say 
The piece about ^^Maud MuUer upon a summer's day"; 
An' when she nigh fergets it, then Hattie whispers out 
An' tells her what 's a-comin', an' when she 's through we 

shout ; 
An' then there is some singin', ^^My Country 'Tis of 

Thee," 
An' then a dialogue about the fairies in a tree : 
An' Miss Simpson sets there smilin', pink an' happy on her 

stool, 
Fer somehow all goes perfect 
on 

the las ' 

day 

of school. 

The days at Spring Bank school is gone, there ain't a single 

brick 
"Where we shouted ^'Anti-over," or raced along the crick, 
Fer they 've built a brand new schoolhouse on the corner 

where we played 
Throwin' sunflower stalks at Injuns in the osage-orange 

shade. 



38 CLOSING DAY ENTERTAINMENTS 

But somehow when the years is gone, an' every slate erased, 
There may be still in Heaven an acre-lot jes' placed 
Where the wind comes thru the winders of a school-house 

white an' cool, 
An' God is jes' a teacher 
on 

the las' 

day 

of school. 

—Kansas Teacher 

EESTING TIME 

The summer days have lengthened, • 
The summer heat has strengthened, 
And so vacation days have come 
And lessons are over and done. 
Three little maids from school, 
Rest in the shade so cool, 
Telling what they now will do 
Since their lessons all are through. 

Thankful are they for summer's rest. 
Which is the happiest time will test. 
Blue-eyed Nanny, with golden hair, 
For she is wealthy, young and fair; 
Or little Fanny, with eyes of gray, 
Who hates all work, and tires of play; 
Or black-eyed Jenny, full of fun. 
Her red lips smiling o'er a joke or pun. 

'*I shall have just all the fun I can. 
For to the mountains I '11 go, ' ' said Nan. 
''I '11 ride and walk and play all day, 
I '11 smile and flirt the time away ; 



RECITATIONS AND READINGS 39 

I '11 dress in silks and look so sweet, 
I '11 surely be liked by all I meet ; 
I know I '11 hate to come home again, 
Tiresome lessons once more to begin." 

Then spake the maid with eyes of gray : 
*^I '11 not see the mountains, lake nor bay. 
So I shall stay at home and rest, 
Just like the bird in yonder nest. 
And all through the summer hours 
I '11 simply gather pleasure and flowers. 
Nothing I '11 do but what I like — 
Neither sew, nor knit, nor read, nor write." 

Little Jenny had listened the while, 
And her red lips parted in a smile. 
As she said, with a laugh of delight : 
* ' I shall be busy from morn till night. 
I shall help my mother and father, too, 
For happy are those who 've plenty to do ; 
And yet, throughout each golden day 
I know I shall find some time for play. ' ' 

But when in the fall they meet once more, 
And chat together, as of yore. 
Two of the girls thought summer long, 
And were so glad that it was gone, 



THE LESSON OF THE ACORN 

A simple acorn, gathered by the hand. 
Planted with care within the fertile land 
Covered with soil and leaves and there let lie, 
Sprouts, roots, and shows its leaflets, by and by; 



40 CLOSING DAY ENTERTAINMENTS 

Gains stalks and branches^ rises through the years, 
Until at last a sturdy oak appears. 
Yet none within that acorn's form would see 
The shape and substance of the future tree, 
Were 't not from observation sure he know^s 
From just such germ the mighty oak tree grows. 



The acre of our learning planted here 
Has made some growth, we think, within the year ; 
And though its size be little, branches weak. 
Let me your fostering care to-day bespeak; 
Let not its weak condition make you loth 
By kind applause to aid its feeble growth; 
Wither no foliage with your frowns, but give 
The sunshine of your smiles to bid it live. 
So in some future day, perchance, you 11 see 
The weakling bush grown to a stately tree. 
And say with pride, ''I thought it would be so; 
It was my favor helped the oak to grow." 



VACATION-TIME 

All the world is set to rhyme 
Now it is vacation-time. 
And a swelling flood of joy 
Brims the heart of every boy. 
No more rote and no more rule. 
No more staying after school 
When the dreamy brain forgets 
Tiresome tasks the master sets; 
Nothing but to play and play 
Through an endless holiday. 



RECITATIONS AND READINGS 41 

Morn or afternoon, may all 
Swing the bat and catch the ball; 
Nimble-footed, race and run 
Through the meadow in the sun, 
Chasing winged scraps of light. 
Butterflies in darting flight ; 
Or where willows lean and look 
Down at others in the brook, 
Frolic loud the stream within, 
Every arm a splashin^^' fin. 

Where the thorny thickets bar, 
There the sweetest berries are; 
Where the shady banks make dim 
Pebbly pools, shy trout swim; 
Where the boughs are mossiest, 
Builds the humming-bird a nest ; — 
There are haunts the rover seeks, 
Touch of tan upon his cheeks. 
And within his heart the joy 
Known to no one but a boy. 

All the world is set to rhyme 
Now it is vacation-time. 

—From ^^Book of BJiyme' 

GRADUATION'S PROMISE 

Salena Sheets Martin 

And once again life opens wide the door 
Through which shall pass ambition, youth and hope. 
Into the harsher world, but little tried, 
Where eager faith its tasks would meet and cope. 



42 CLOSING DAY ENTERTAINMENTS 

The tasks that stagger oft when youth seems far 
From that fond hope that fastened to the star. 

How fine a thing it is — this hope of youth, 
Which bears the faithful heart that gives it room 
Above all trivial things of time and place 
On pinions to a sure success — not doom ; 
That sees no failure in the coming years 
Whose eager feet press on — they know no fear. 

The June time brings those fruitful days of life, 
Repeating for each one the promise o 'er, 
Of rich fulfillment — harvests in the years, 
The fields of time, in which our visions soar; 
With roses to bloom and thorns but few. 
May every worthy dream of youth come true. 

And may no idle dreams usurp the mind, 
No selfish visions stretch adown the years, 
No loitering by waysides, seeming joy 
To end in grief and penitential tears; 
But on life's journey all along the way 
Look Heavenward and for its guidance pray. 



A GRADUATING ESSAY 
H. C. Dodge 

(At the bracketed lines the speaker breaks off from a serious 
tone and assumes a coquettish air. At the first verse she turns 
her head to see her sash; at the second feels of her shoe; at the 
third examines fan; fifth, points to glove.) 

Dear Friends! My essay is to-night 

On woman's Future Sphere — 
(I wonder how I look in white; 

My sash feels rather queer) . 



RECITATIONS AND READINGS 43 

Of late years only woman threw 

Her shackles off and rose — 
(Oh, dear! I never had a shoe 

So pinch and hurt my toes). 

No longer slave to selfish man, 

She will new heights explore — 
(Suppose they recognize my fan 

I borrowed from next door) . 

Her brain, once dulled, is active now; 

Her tongue, once stilled, can speak — 
(Before the glass I learned my bow; 

It took me just one w^eek). 

Armed with her knowledge and its strength 

She will the world overcome — 
(My gloves have quite a stylish length, 

One 's bursted on the thumb). 

Man will, yea, must acknowledge that 

We women lead in all — 
(I 'm thinking if a bigger hat 

Will be the thing next fall). 

Dear Friends, adieu ! Our future sphere 

I know will be immense — 
(Just look at my bouquets — I fear 

Pa 11 growl at the expense). 

VACATION 

Marie Irish 
An essay to be read in a bashful manner by one of the larger boys 

Vacation is what comes when school stops, and all the 
boys and girls is so glad to have it git here that you 'd 



44 CLOSING DAY ENTERTAINMENTS 

most think it was something good to eat. Vacation is lots 
shorter than school is, 'cause in vacation the days go so 
much faster than they do when there is school. 

In vacation time the water don't git used up so fast, 
'cause the girls, an' especially the boys, don't have to wash 
their hands an' faces — an' especially their necks an' ears — 
so much as when there is school. Teachers makes an awful 
fuss about girls, an' especially boys, who has dirty hands 
an' faces; but as for me I don't like to study any better 
when I 'm scrubbed up than when I ain't. 

Pupils are glad to have vacation come 'cause they git 
tired of tryin' to study when they don't want to ; an' teach- 
ers are glad of vacation 'cause they git tired of tryin' to 
make us study when it 's such a bother to git us to. 

Vacations is better for teachers than for some of us 
scholars, 'cause the teachers can git a rest, an ' wear dress-up 
clothes, an ' have a good time, especially if they have beaux, 
an' take life easy an' not have to git up in time to ring the 
school bell ; while some of the girls, an ' especially boys, have 
to weed onions, an ' hoe corn, an ' collect tater-bugs, an ' mow 
lawns — all of which is just as bad an ' worser 'n than doin ' 
examples in long division an' learnin' hist'ry. Say, the 
teachers make me tired. It took more 'n five years to fight 
out that Rev'lutionary war an' they think we can learn the 
whole of it in 'bout five weeks or a little more, which, any 
way, ain 't fair, it seems to me. 

Vacation is the time when you forget most all you learned 
when there was school, which is hard on a fellow when 
school starts agoin', 'cause teachers have a mean way of 
askin' questions 'bout what you can't remember that you 
learned long ago before vacation. 

When grown-up folks gits a vacation they buy some new 
clothes an ' go off for a visit and have a good time ; but when 
school vacation comes, the girls, an' especially the boys, has 
to wear all our old clothes so 's to save our others, an ' pitch 



RECITATIONS AND READINGS 45 

in an' help work. My cousin, Bill Perkins, says that when 
school is out, he 's most tired to death from stretchin' his 
mind so 's to git his books into it ; but when vacation is 
over, he 's so tired from workin' in the garden he has to 
start school to git rested. 

The last day of school comes just before vacation begins, 
and that is a day of mingled joy and sorrow, 'cause a fel- 
low feels bad 'cause he won't see the girls he likes so often^, 
an' like 's not he has to take part in the program an' read a 
essay like this, which makes him feel silly even if teacher 
does say it 's an awful good essay; an' you have to wear 
your best clothes an' your shoes hurt your feet; an' when 
you git home at night your father says, ^^Well, I 'm glad 
school is out — there 's so much you can do here at home, ' ' 
an ' then you wish vacation was over an ' school would begin, 
even if the teacher is cross. 

A BOY'S COMPOSITION ON BREATHING 

(To be read in all seriousness, as an example of the class's work 
in composition) 

Breath is made of air. We breathe with our lungs, our 
lights, our liver, and our kidneys. If it wasn't for our 
breath we would die while we slept. Our breath keeps the 
life a-going through the nose when we are asleep. Boys 
that stay in a room all day should not breathe. They make 
carbonicide. Carbonicide is poisoner than a mad dog. A 
heap of soldiers was in a black hole in India, and a car- 
bonicide got in that there hole and nearly killed every one 
a-fore morning. 

Girls kill the breath with corsets that squeeze their dia- 
gram. Girls can't holler or run like boys because their 
diagram is squeezed too much. If I was a girl I had rather 
be a boy, so I could run, holler, and row and have a great 
big diagram. 



46 CLOSING DAY ENTERTAINMENTS 

QUOTATIONS 

'a '11 Try!" is a soldier; 

^^I Will!'' is a king; 
Be sure they are near 

When the school-bells ring. 

When school-days are over, 
And boys are men, 

^a '11 Try!" and *^I Will!" 
Are good friends then. 



Toiling, rejoicing, sorrowing, 
Onward through life he goes ; 
Each morning sees some task begun. 
Each evening sees its close; 
Something attempted, something done. 
Has earned a night's repose. 

— Henry W, Longfellow 



Hie away ! hie away I 
Over bank and over brae ; 
Where the copsewood is the greenest, 
Where the fountains glisten sheenest, 
Where the lady fern grows strongest. 
Where the morning dew lies longest, 
Where the blackcock sweetest sips it, 
Where the fairy lightest trips it. 
Hie to haunts right seldom seen. 
Lovely, lonesome, cool and green, 
Over bank and over brae, 
Hie away ! hie away I 

—Sir Walter Scott 



RECITATIONS AND READINGS 47 

We live in deeds, not years ; in thoughts, not breaths ; 
In feelings, not in figures on a dial. 
We should count time by heart-throbs. He most lives 
Who thinks most, feels the noblest, acts the best. 

— Philip James Bailey 



Aim at perfection in everything, though in most things it 
is unattainable. However, they who aim at it, and persevere, 
will come much nearer to it than those whose laziness and 
despondency make them give it up as unattainable. 

— Lord Chesterfield 

In autumn school begins, we know, 
In winter comes the feathery snow, 
In spring the birds and flowers appear, 
In summer comes vacation dear. 



The sweetest bird builds near the ground, 
The loveliest flowers spring low. 

And we must stoop for happiness 
If we its worth would know. 



— Swain 



And what is so rare as a day in June ? 
Then, if ever come perfect days ; 
Then Heaven tries earth if it be in tune, 
And over it softly her warm ear lays. 

'T is as easy now for the heart to be true 
As for the grass to be green or skies to be blue, — 
'T is the natural way of living. 

James Eiissell Lowell 



48 CLOSING DAY ENTERTAINMENTS 

The sun and the sky 

And the birds and I 
And the great, tall whispering trees, 
Are all as happy as happy can be 

Out in the summer breeze. 

— Arthur A, Enipe 



June brings tulips, lilies, roses. 
Fills the children 's hands with posies. 



When the heat like a mist veil floats, 
And the poppies flame in the rye. 
And the silver note in the streamlet's throat 
Has softened almost to a sigh, 
It is July. 

—S. H, Swett 



WELCOMES AND FAREWELLS 



WELCOME SPEECH 

I am a little child, 

And have not much to say ; 
But I must make, I 'm told, 

The ''Welcome Speech" to-day. 

Dear friends, we 're glad yon Ve come 

To hear ns speak and sing. 
We '11 do our very best 

To please in everything. 

Our speeches we have learned. 
And if yon '11 hear ns through, 

You '11 see what little folks — 
If they but try — can do. 



WELCOME 

Mother says if I were bigger 

She would let me make a speech, 
But, you see, while I 'm so little 

She might find me hard to teach. 
So I '11 only bid you welcome, 

Saying that I 'm glad you 're here ; 
If I keep on growing bigger 

I might make a speech next year. 
49 



50 CLOSING DAY ENTERTAINMENTS 

OPENING SPEECH 
Priscilla J. Owens 

Welcome, good friends, both old and new, 
A greeting kind to all of you. 
We merry little youngsters bring 
The joy of childhood and the spring; 
Excuse mistakes in song and speech, 
. And give a pleasant smile to each, 
For every little girl and boy 
Has tried so hard to give you joy ; 
Please to be pleased with what we bring, 
And listen kindly when we sing ; 
And once again, dear friends and true, 
A welcome I give to all of you. 



WELCOME 
Edith Everhard 

Dear friends, we bid you welcome ; 

We 're glad to see you here ; 
And we hope by our politeness 

This gladness may appear. 

We know that you have come to see 
And hear each pupil show 

His parents and his many friends 
Just how much he may know. 

I !m sure we all will do our best 

In pieces or in song; 
Your kindness, then, will do the rest ; 

We hope 't will not seem long. 



WELCOMES AND FAREWELLS 51 

We 'd like to see you often, 

Come in on any day, 
And we 11 try to make you happy 

With our work and with our play. 



WELCOME TO OUR SCHOOLROOM 

Welcome to our schoolroom, kind friends and parents dear. 
It makes us proud and happy to have you with us here ; 
And while we try to show you the things that we can do, 
Please bear in mind we 're very small, not old and wise 
like you. 

Not one among our number, of years counts half a score, 

But every day we 're striving to learn a little more ; 

And though to you our tasks seem light and little more than 

play. 
To us they seem quite diiSScult, as we meet them day by day. 

Perhaps while listening to us here, your thoughts may back- 
ward turn 

To the time when you were children, too, and found it hard 
to learn 

To read, and spell, and do your sums in just the proper way ; 

If so, I 'm sure you 11 pity us if we should fail to-day. 



GREETING 

Friends and Parents : We, the pupils of {name of school) 
bid you a most cordial and hearty welcome. We assure you 
that your presence here is an inspiration to us. 

When we take up advanced work next fall, we shall look 
back to this day and take courage. We shall remember the 



52 CLOSING DAY ENTERTAINMENTS 

kindly spirit that prompted you to be with us here upon 
our Closing Day. 

Therefore, in behalf of my teacher and my schoolmates, 
I not only welcome you to our exercises but also thank you 
for the help and encouragement your presence gives to us. 

W-E-L-C-0-M-E 

FOR ONE (5LDER CHILD AND SEVEN SMALL CHILDREN 

Each child carries a letter of the word "Welcome." The letters 
may be covered with evergreen or made of white carboard and 
colored to match the school colors. Children march on the stage 
and stand in a straight line or a semi-circle according to size 
of stage. 

W — We 're glad to see so many faces here. 

E — Each one to us is very dear. 

L — Let care and trouble now take wing. 

C — Come, listen, while we speak and sing. 

— Oh, we 're glad for friends so true. 

M — Much for you we 've tried to do, 

E — Even though we 're small and few. 

{When tJie last child has spoken^ the child at the head 
leads as the line marches forward^ across the front of the 
stage and down the right side. At the back they meet an 
older pupil who hangs the letters on the blackboard or wall 
on nails that have been previously arranged, ^Vhen they 
have handed^ their letters to this child they march on around 
the stage and pass off. When the last letter has been hung 
the older child steps forward and recites.) 

Dear friends, we are very glad you 've come, 
And we hope that you will feel repaid. 

We have surely done the best we could 
In the preparation we have made. 



WELCOMES AND FAREWELLS 53 

TWO LITTLE WELCOMES 

FOR A LITTLE BOY AND A LITTLE GIRL 

Little Boy {bowing) : 
I 'm going to speak the welcome ! All you men and boys, 
I 'm very glad you Ve come, but you must n 't make any 

noise. 
They told me to make a bow and not be afraid of the men. 
Who 's afraid ! I Ve made it once and now I 11 make it 

again. 

Little Girl : 
Oh, but he didn't welcome the ladies! What a funny 

fellow ! 
Now I 'm going to welcome the ladies, don 't you see ? 
Ladies and girls, you are welcome, just as welcome as can be, 
But the men and boys are welcome just as much and just 

the same. 
I hope every one, when you go home, will say you 're glad 

you came. 

WELCOME, FEIENDS 
By E. S. F. 

FOR SEVEN LITTLE GIRLS 

To be given as an opening piece. Each girl has a large gilt 
letter held behind her, and at the appropriate moment she holds 
this in front of her. The children must be of equal size, and hold 
the letters in a straight line to show the word nicely. 

First Child — W : 

Welcome, kind friends, we greet you all, 
Who have answered to our call, 
And I will gladly turn to view 
My letter, which is ''W." 



54 CLOSING DAY ENTERTAINMENTS 

Second Child — E: 

Every beaming face I see 
Seems to answer back to me 
Smile for smile, in merry glee, 
And so behold my letter ''E/' 

Third Child — L: 

Love and mirth and wit combine 
In the festive wreath we twine 
. To charm you with its magic spell, 
And thus I turn my letter '*L." 

Fourth Child — C: 

Care hath no places here to-night 
'Mid those youthful faces bright; 
From Life's future shadows free, 
So I turn my letter ^^C." 

Fifth Child— 0: 

You have not forgotten quite 
All youth's rosy morning light, 
Shining in the long ago, 
So here you see my letter ^^0." 

Sixth Child — M: 

If we with our merry lore 
Make you all feel young once more, 
Still Time bids us onward go, 
And here the letter ''M" I show. 

Seventh Child — E: 

E stands for ''end," and so you see 
That is the one that comes to me; 
All things must have an end they say, 
And so kind friends we '11 only stay 



WELCOMES AND FAREWELLS 55 

A moment that you all may see 
What word is ended with my ''E/' 

Together : 

^* Welcome" is the word we spell, 
And '* welcome '^ say our hearts as well; 
Welcome, old and young and all 
Who have answered to our call, 
Welcome, welcome, welcome all. 



I BID YOU ALL A WELCOME 
Edith F. A. U. Painton 

In our life-time, pain and pleasure, 

Both must fall unto our share; 
Sometimes duty seems a blessing, 

Often it is but a care. 
Yet we find that every pleasure 

Far exceeds the heaviest pain, 
And that in the compensation 

Not a ^igh has been in vain. 

Thus we feel, on this occasion, 

When our school-term closed last May, 
It was very hard at parting, 

Hard that long good-by to say. 
We were joyful at our triumph. 

Yet with pain each heart did swell. 
For we feared that careless parting 

Was to some a last farewell. 

Now again we come together, 

With the ^^wiir' to find a ^'way,'' 



56 CLOSING DAY ENTERTAINMENTS 

And it has become my duty 
(But a pleasure, let me say), 

To meet you with words of greeting 
As our year-book doth unfold; 

And to bid new faces welcome, 
Glad to see again the old. 

% Let us strive for greater, victory 

As we start upon this year; 
Outstrip every previous session, 

Toward the goal more firmly steer. 
There is yet some fault to conquer, 

Grander laurels, richer fame; 
And let us resolve to win it. 

And do honor to our name. 

It is said that words of greeting 

Are the best when soonest o'er; 
And, as I wish not to tire you, 

I will say but little more. 
Let me bid you all a w^elcome 

With a handshake, firm and true; 
Old and new, it matters little. 

We are glad to welcome you! 



GOOD-BY 

Vacation has come, and to-day, 

Good-by to the schoolroom we say; 

Good-by to our teachers, so dear. 

To playmates and friends gathered here, 

Good-by to our books till September, 

When school we must, once more, remember. 



WELCOMES AND FAREWELLS 57 

GOOD-BY 

"We have but one more word to say, 

As sinks the day to rest ; 
We hope you 're pleased at what you Ve heard ; 

We 've tried to do our best. 
We 're glad to see you often here ; 

And when you come we '11 try 
To entertarin you w4th our words, 

But now we '11 say good-by. 

CLOSING VERSE 

Recitation for a tiny boy or girl 

The birds and flowers call, 
We dearly love them all. 

The moments fly; 
Vacation 's very near, 
Its joys will soon be here ; 
So now to schoolmates dear 
We say good-by. 
Kisses hand to audience. 

FAREWELL 

Farewell to you, friends dear, 
School days are o'er this year. 
We part while leaves are green. 
And brilliant flowers are seen; 
We will return next fall, 
When autumn's wind's loud call 
Will drive the flowers away. 
But we '11 come blithe and gay 
To work with renewed might, 
For play will make us bright. 



58 CLOSING DAY ENTERTAINMENTS 

VALEDICTORY 

Friends and Parents : To my lot has fallen the privilege 
of bidding you good-by. My words of farewell will be 
few, but I trust that you will feel they are sincere. 

We are very glad to have you here this afternoon and we 
hope you have enjoyed the short time spent with us. 

Teacher, Schoolmates: We, too, must sa}'' good-by, for 
another school year has come to an end. While we hail the 
glad vacation with pleasure, let us not forget the pleasant 
days we have spent here together, and let us hope for a re- 
union in September. 

A GOOD-BY 
M. L. Stanley 

Beautiful thoughts ! come to me, 

And clothe yourself in words — 
Beautiful words, whose tone shall b« 

Sweet as the song of birds. 

Within our schoolroom old and dear, 

We 're glad to see thee, friends ; 
And now we 'd say a few words here 

Ere homeward each one wends. 

You have listened to our singing. 

Listened to our words as well. 
While the light-shod hours are ringing 

This day's passing knell. 

How many hours their tale have told. 

And left no trace behind. 
While we were storing up life's gold. 

The wisdom of the mind! 



WELCOMES AND FAREWELLS 59 

Most happy hours of work and fun, 

That pass away too soon, 
Thy memory, like the shining sun, 

Cheers us this afternoon. 



Without the birds sing sweet and clear, 
For summer 's on the throne ; 

But hearts of youth sing songs of cheer, 
A music all their own. 

We part to-day a little time, 

Vacation's joys to taste; 
But when doth sound the school-bell's chime 

With quick steps back we '11 haste. 

So now to teacher and mates so dear, 

A happy vacation to all ! 
And on you, friends, who 've gathered here, 

May life 's bright blessings fall ! 

Beautiful words ! They come to me 

With half a smile, a sigh, 
I '11 say them now to all of thee, — 

Those words so old — ' ' Good-by 1 ' ' 



VALEDICTORY POEM 

The task has fallen to my share, 

A valedictory to prepare ; 

But much I fear. 
You who are here. 

May think it but a poor endeavor, 

And very far from being clever. 



60 CLOSING DAY ENTERTAINMENTS 

But please be kind, 
And bear in mind 
That 't is a trying thing to stand 
Before the savants of the land, 
And give the proper air and tone 
To composition all one 's own. 

Before I close 
I now propose 
To tender thanks to each of yon 
Who Ve seen our exhibition through. 
We hope hereafter to appear 
Before our friends from year to year, 
Until it is each pupil's fate, 
With honors high to graduate. 



GOOD-BY! 
Marie Irish 

Through weeks of school we 've studied hard, 
With knowledge our young minds to swell. 

But now we 're going to have a rest — 
Hurrah ! 't is time to say farewell. 

Good-by, schoolroom ! Though you 're pleasant, 
For your walls of learning we '11 not sigh ; 

No pensive minds shall long for you 
As gay vacation days glide by. 

Good-by, school books ! Go off and hide — 
Readers, 'rithmetics, hist'ries, too — 

You 've bothered our heads long enough ; 
We 're glad to say good-by to you. 



WELCOMES AND FAREWELLS 61 

Good-by, schoolmates! The weary path 
Of Learning 's Hill we Ve climbed together ; 

But now o'er meadow, moor, and dale, 
We 11 gambol through vacation w^eather. 

Good-by, teacher! To fill our minds 

With wisdom's lore you Ve done your best, 

You Ve made our school a happy one ; 
But now^, hurrah, we 're going to rest ! 

Through weeks of school we 've studied hard, 

Learning's illumining hill to climb; 
But now, good-by, good-by, good-by — 

Oh, how we love vacation time ! 



A VALEDICTORY 
A. F. Shoals 

The golden glow of a summer's day 

Rests over the verdant hills. 
And the sunlight falls with mellow ray 

On fields and laughing rills ; 
But ere its last beam fades away 

Beyond the mountain high. 
Our lips must bravely, sadly say 

The parting words, ^* Good-by." 

Kind friends and parents gathered here. 

Our gratitude is yours 
For all your care and sympathy, 

Which changelessly endures. 
We 've tried to use the passing hours 

So they would bring no sigh. 



62 CLOSING DAY ENTERTAINMENTS 

When to our happy days of school 
We say our last * ' Good-by. ' ' 

Dear schoolmates, ne 'er shall we forget 

The old days spent with you. 
With many a sigh, for joys gone by, 

We sadly say, ^^ Adieu." 
The last sweet hour with you is past, 

Here must we break the tie, 
• With sadness now, once more we say, 

''Good-by, schoolmates, good-by." 

Dear teachers, we shall ne 'er forget 

The lessons you have taught ; 
We trust the future may be perfect 

The work your hands have wrought ; 
And may they bring good gifts to you. 

These years that swiftly fly. 
And may you kindly think of those 

Who bid you now ' ' Good-by. ' ' 

' 'Good-by ! " it shall not be farewell, — 

We hope again to meet ; 
But happy hours are ever short, 

And days of youth are fleet. 
There 's much to learn, and much to do ; 

Oh, may our aims be high, 
And ever lead toward that bright land, 

Where none shall say, ''Good-by." 



DIALOGUES AND EXERCISES . 

VACATION PLANS 

for three boys and three girls 

Together : 

To-day the world 's a big flower cup, 
Good cheer and sunshine fill it up. 
"We 11 laugh and play the hours away, 
Because vacation 's here to-day. 

First Boy [carries sand-pail and spade] : 
I go to the seashore ; 1 11 swim and I 11 wade, 
And have lots of fun in the sand with my spade. 

First Girl [carries suitcase] : 

And I for the country am leaving to-day ; 

Fresh milk and fried chicken ! now who 'd stay away ? 

Second Boy [witTi rake] : 

My trunk is all ready for grandpa 's right now ! 
I 11 help in the hay-fields, and milk the old cow. 

Second Girl [with dolls] : 
And I through vacation will happily play 
With dolls, and help mother in 'most every way. 

Third Boy [with hoe and seeds] : 
I 11 stay right at home, but I 'm glad, for, you see 
A gardener fine I am learning to be. 
[Cries of ^^ Vegetables! vegetables!^'] 
63 



g4 CLOSING DAY ENTERTAINMENTS 

Third Girl [with fisliwg pole] : 

I 'm off to the mountains to fish and to climb 
With papa; 111 have such a jolly good time. 

Together: 

So through the summer's golden hours 
We 11 play like birds and bees and flowers, 
Vacation 's here — and now — good-by ! 

[Train whistles outside,] 
Oh, hurry ! there 's our train ! let 's fly ! 

[Those who are going away rim off, others wave good-hy.] 
— Normal Instructor-Primary Plans 



IN VACATION TIME 

Marie Irish 
for two girls and three boys 

The children stand in line while speaking. No. 1 is a small 
boy; No. 2 a small girl; No. 3 a larger girl; No. 4 a boy about the 
size of, or larger than No. 3; No. 5 a boy about the size of No. 4. 

First Boy (No. 1) : 

I am tired of study and tired of school, 

I am glad that vacation is near ; 
I want to trap gophers and catch the flsh 

Hiding in pools of water clear. 

First Girl (No. 2) : 

Trap gophers ! Catch fish ! Such horrible things 
As you dreadful boys like to do ! 



DIALOGUES AND EXERCISES 65 

rm anxious to play with lovely dolls, 
And have tea parties just for two. 

Third Boy (No. 5) : 

Play with your dolls ! What a tiresome way 

To waste the swift vacation hours! 
You ought to climb trees and shoot an air gun, 

Go in swimming and hunt wild flowers. 

Second Girl (No. 3) : 

Oh, now, see here ! "Why talk of only play ? 

Don't you know you should do your bit? 
With such lots of work to be done I think 

Boys and girls should all learn to knit. 

Second Boy (No. 4) : 

The knitting 's all right, but it seems to me 

That each of you should shoulder a hoe, 
Go to the garden and get right to work, 

Helping the ' ' garden sass ' ' to grow ; 
This IS important, because it is food 

That keeps the world going, you know. 

All: 

Yes, we 're glad that vacation is coming, 

From our books we need a good rest ; 
But we must not play through all the long day, 

We '11 do some work — that rule is best ; 
All play will make Jack but a worthless shirk, — 

We '11 do our bit with earnest zest. 



66 CLOSING DAY ENTERTAINMENTS 

THE CROWNING OF JUNE 

FOR ANY NUMBER OF CHILDREN 

Mrs. C. H. Stanley 

Let June be represented by a large girl dressed in white, with- 
out flowers; the rose, lily, and daisy by smaller girls, with trim- 
mings of their respective flowers. The chorus may be made up 
of girls representing different flowers, — as the lilac, nasturtium, 
pansy, fern, wild flowers, etc., bearing bouquets, baskets, and 
garlands. The number may be large or small as suits the school. 
This is a good exercise for introducing a large number of children 
who will have little to recite. 

Prelude : 
Open the door, let in the air ; 
The winds are sweet and the flowers are fair. 

All [as curtain rises] : 
A welcome to June, beautiful June! 
The soft balmy air of the lengthening day, 
The birds of the forest, the children at play, 
All join with the chorus of flowers to say, 
''A welcome to June, beautiful June!" 

'T is the crowning of June, beautiful June ! 

And the flowers, from the daisies that bloom at your feet 

To the sunflower tall, with its brilliant hues, meet 

With the lily, the rose and the violet sweet, 

For the crowning of June, beautiful June ! 

Rose [offering a crown of roses] : 
I bring a crown for your brow, June, 
From the roses, one and all ; 
We own your sway, and we vow this day 
To blossom forth at your call. 



DIALOGUES AND EXERCISES 67 

June: 
'T is meet I 'm sure that the queen of the flowers, 
Should crown the queen of the year. 

Lily [offering a crown of lilies] : 
I place in your hands a sceptre rare, 
A symbol of royal power; 
But hold it up and the lily's cup 
Will open from bud to flower. 

June : 
May my reign be as pure as this spotless flower, 
Its memory sweet as its breath. 

Daisy [offering a daisy chain] : 
I Ve naught but a simple daisy chain 
To bring as a gift, Queen, 
But your lightest word by the daisies heard 
Will dapple the meadows green. 

June : 
A gift more rare than costliest gems 
Is this chain of gold and pearls. 

Violet [off^ering a iasket of flowers. All the other 
flowers come forward with her] : 
We bring you blossoms from forest and field. 
From valley and hillside steep ; 
Let June's voice sound, and up from the ground, 
To w^elcome our queen, we leap. 

June [rising] : 
With subjects so fair, and brave, and true. 
No rival power need I fear ; 
With birds and blossoms, sunshine and love, 
June must be queen of the year. 



68 



CLOSING DAY ENTERTAINMENTS 



Flowers [all] : 
Then hail to June, our beautiful June, 
Let it ring o'er hill and vale, 
She is queen of the year — let all who hear, 
Cry, ''Hail to the queen! all hail!" 

Flowers [sing, tune, Yankee Doodle] : 
And now, we children, just for fun, 

Will take the flowers' places. 
All looking up to see the sun. 
That 's smiling in our faces. 
Chorus: 

Don 't you hear the birdies sing ? 
High above us on the wing! 
Tra, la, la, la, la, la, 
T!ra, la, la, la, la, la. 

THE TIRED BOOKS 

Marie Irish 




FOR SIX CHILDREN 

They march onto stage in line at back, 
halt, then come up to front, six abreast, with 
short, mincing steps, each carrying in front of 
the face of a piece of pasteboard twelve by eight- 
een inches in size, with a handle fastened to 
the back by which to hold it. At the top of 
each pasteboard is printed a name, using His- 
tory, Reader, Grammar, Arithmetic, Speller, and 
Geography, and below the name are drawn 
with charcoal or burnt cork eyes, nose, and 
mouth. Holes are cut for eyes and mouth which 
the drawing should enclose. 

(If desired, instead of the children holding 
the pasteboards to their faces, an elastic band 
may be used attached to each pasteboard to fit 
around the head and hold the masks in place.) 



DIALOGUES AND EXERCISES 69 

First Child [Geography] : 

The boys and girls are filled with joy 
To think that close of school is nigh ; 

But, listen here — 
We books are just as glad as they, 
And for vacation loudly sigh, 

Because it 's clear 
That when we have been thumped around, 
And banged and scratched and chewed and torn. 

Throughout the year, 
With dog-ears on most ev'ry page, 
No wonder we feel old and worn 

And school seems drear. 

Second Child [Reader] : 

I '11 confess that I am weary; 
I have been studied day by day. 

That Sue might know 
'^Lincoln's Address'' and ''Paso del Mar," 
''Barbara Frietchie," ''Stag at Bay," 

And "Old Black Joe." 
I 'm a pleasant-natured Reader, 
And believe in education. 

But I 'm not slow 
To own I 'm tired of being read, 
And desire a recreation — 

So school can go. 

Third Child [History] : 

Though you may think I 'm forty-five, 
I really am not very old, 

But you '11 agree 
I look as if I have been through 
The battles on my pages told — 



III 



70 CLOSING DAY ENTERTAINMENTS 

Poor battered me ! 
A peaceful Histor}^ am I, 
Therefore I 'd like a vacation — 

Soon let it be — 
From the ones by whom I 'm tattered 
Without slightest provocation — 

From school I flee ! 

Fourth Child [Orammar] : 
What of a boy who hates my rules, 
Declaring that ^'Grammar is rot/' 

And says ''I seen''? 
And tears my leaves for paper wads 
To throw at girls with well-aimed shot — 

Isn't he mean? 
And on the pages where I tell 
How to speak correctly and well, — 

There may be seen 
The foolish pictures he has drawn 
Of teacher and her beau so swell ! 
He should be punished for a spell 

In a threshing machine ! 

Fifth Child [AritJimetic] : 

Though I 'm a kind Arithmetic 
I am glad to have vacation— 

I 'm most undone ! 
For months I have been studied hard, 
And it is an aggravation. 

And not much fun, 
To have my dog-ears multiplied, 
And my pages oft divided, 

While sums are done; 
And have my back bent till I look 



DIALOGUES AND EXERCISES 71 

Mutilated and lopsided, 
Like an old Hun ! 

Sixth Child [Speller] : 
Yes, the children are tired and want 
To lay us away on the shelves 

The long weeks through; 
But we 're sick of being studied, 
And want to be left to ourselves — 

Indeed, we do ! 
Oh, the boys and girls are all right, 
But perhaps they may not have guessed 

What we tell you. 
That we Books have grown tired of them 
And want a vacation and rest — 

Good-by — we 're through ! 

They march backward ivith slow steps to hack of stage, 
then back off, keeping face to audience. 



VACATION FUN 

FOR ANY NUMBEE OF BOYS AND GIRLS 

Some Boys and Girls are talking together. Little Grand- 
mother sits off at one side knitting, and commenting in 
an aside, as they speak, but not interrupting them. 

Archie : 

Boys and girls, vacation is coming, 

And now let 's all of us say 
Where we would go and what we could see. 
If things could be as they ought to be, 

And boys and girls had their own way. 



72 CLOSING DAY ENTERTAINMENTS 

Grandmother : 

* ' Had their own way ! " 'T is my belief 
In a very short time they 'd come to grief. 

Shelton : 

Oh, Archie ! I would n 't take long to decide ; 

I 'd build a beautiful boat ; 
To the Northern Polar Sea I 'd sail, 
And catch the walrus and seal and whale, 

And that would be fun afloat ! 

Grandmother : 

In his beautiful boat he 'd have a mess 
With walrus and seal and whale, I guess. 

Ethel : 

Now, Shelton, I 'd choose something better than that : 

Up the Amazon I 'd run, 
"Where parrots chatter and monkeys swing. 
And bright little humming-birds flit and sing. 

And oh, would n 't that be fun ! 

Grandmother : 

Now hear the child talk ! It makes me smile, 
Nice dinner she 'd make for a crocodile ! 

Gerty : 

Oh, Ethel ? See how you like my plan, — 

I 11 have a seal-skin dress. 
Then up to the Hudson Bay I 11 go 
To the queer snow-huts of the Eskimo, 

And that will be fun, I guess ! 

Grandmother : 

Has that girl forgotten, do you suppose, 
It is cold enough there to freeze her nose ? 



DIALOGUES AND EXERCISES 73 

LuLU: 

I can tell you a trip worth two of that, 

Not half so cold and rough ; 
For a girl of my studious disposition, 
In a trip to the Paris Exposition 

Of fun there would be enough. 

Grandmother : 

Poor thing ! Half frightened to death she 'd be 
Before she was half-way over the sea ! 

EOBBIE : 

Now, Lulu, to China, the land of tea, 

I make up my mind to go ; U 

Where they have such queer little slanting eyes, 
And sell young rats and puppies for pies, — 

And that must be fun, you know. 

Grandmother [turning to tTiem] i 

Well ! well ! it seems you would each forsake 

The land I jolliest call. 
Better sail your boats in the Yankee rills ; 
Better chase for sport over Yankee hills ; 

That will be the best fun of all. 

All: 

Little grandmother 's right ! three cheers for you ! 

Your way is the wisest one. 
Wherever we go she shall lead the van, 
She shall march this way, — now see our plan, 

And isn't this jolly fun! 

Yes, isn't this jolly fun! 

[Two hoys take Little Grandmother between tliem, in 
little arm-cliair, and carry Iter off tJie stage, tJie rest 
following.] 

— Journal of Education 



74 CLOSING DAY ENTERTAINMENTS 

OUR CONFESSIONS 

for six children 

First Child: 

Oh, now at last the day has come 

That we Ve been waiting for ; 
We 11 put away our books and slates 

And lock the schoolhouse door. 
For weeks we Ve worked together, 

And now before we go 
Please tell me what you Ve liked the best, 
Or what to you has been a pest, 

I 'd really like to know. 

Second Child: 

Well, since it is the last school day, 

I really don 't mind telling, 
That I 'd like school much better 

If it were not for spelling. 
T-w-o, t double o 
And t-o all spell two (too, to). 

To get each one exactly right 
Is more than I can do. 

P-e-a-r sometimes is pear, 
Again, p-a-r-e. 

Then it may be p-a-i-r, — 
It 's all too much for me. 

First Child: 

Oh, yes, I know it is quite hard, 

The truth you have been telling, 
But tell me now, have you had too, 

[Looks at Third Child.] 
Your hardest time in spelling? 



DIALOGUES AND EXERCISES 75 

Third Child: 
Say, don't you think that arithmetic is worse than all 

the rest? 
Why, fractions drive me nearly wild; although I do my 

best, 
I cannot understand them all, each measure and each 

table, 
I 'm going to learn them all some day — that is, if I am 

able. 

Second Child: 
Yes, fractions are bewildering, there 's not a bit of doubt, 
But still they 're not like spelling, for figures will work 
out. 

Fourth Child: 
Well, nothing else seems hard to me but history and, 

oh, dear! 
Who was it made the cotton-gin, and who first settled 

here ? 
Did John Smith build up Boston, or did he fight in Spain? 
I knew it when we studied it, but I 'm off the track again. 

Third Child: 
I know that history is quite hard, but still I 'd be con- 
tented 
If we had no arithmetic; why was the stuff invented? 

Fifth Child: 
Well, history isn't hard for me; I like arithmetic; 
But oh, dear me, geography! it makes me feel quite sick. 
There are mountains, bays, peninsulas; rivers, plains, 

plateaus ; 
How I shall ever learn them all, well, goodness only knows ! 



76 CLOSING DAY ENTERTAINMENTS 

Fourth Child: 
I 'm not fond of geography, but it is simply great 
Compared to that book, history, for there 's not a single 
date. 

Sixth Child: 
Well, grammar puzzles me the most, it s so easy to forget 
And say ^^we was,'' or else ^^I ain 't" — I have the habit 

yet 
Of never saying what I should, but saying what I 

shouldn't; 
If I 'd my way I 'd never look at grammar, no, I wouldn't ! 

All: 
You 've heard us tell our troubles and all we 've had to say, 
We haven't told it all this year until this last, last day; 
Now for a while we'll say good-by, 
To leave some things won't make us cry. 

— Normal Instructor-Primary Plans 



SPENDING VACATIONS 

Marie Irish 
for one girl and two boys 

Characters: Mrs, Jones; Harry and Fred, Iter sons 

Discovered, Mrs. Jones sewing, 
Mrs Jones: I wonder why the boys do not come. It is 
time they were home from school. This is the last day, 
and I suppose they '11 be happy because vacation is 
here. I think I hear them coming. 



DIALOGUES AND EXERCISES 77 

Enter Fred and Harry. 
Fred : Well, I think it 's just too mean for anything, so. 

[Both boys sit and pout moodily,] 
Harry : So do I, when we had planned to have such a good 

time. 
Mrs. Jones: Why, what is the matter? You boys look 

as cross as bears. Has something awful happened? 
Fred : Yes, an ' I don 't think it 's one bit fair. 
Harry: 'Cause we 're tired of goin' to school an' want to 

have a rest. 
Mrs. Jones : Well, why can 't you rest ? Has n 't vacation 

started? I thought this was the last day of school. 
Fred: You tell her 'bout it, Harry. [Wipes eyes,] 
Harry : Well, ma, if anybody spends all of anything, there 

ain't any left for anybody else, is there? 
Mrs. Jones: Why no, of course not. If you spend all 

your money there is n 't any left, is there ? 
Fred: There, that's just what I said. Ain't that too 

mean for anything? 
Harry: Well, I don't care, I shan't go, anyhow. I'm 

goin' to stay at home. 
Mrs. Jones : For goodness sake, what are you boys talk- 
ing about? I don't understand. 
Fred : Oh, that Jim Hartley is just too mean to live. He 

said on the way home from school to-night that he's 

goin' to his uncle's over in Shelley to-morrow an' spend 

the wliole vacation, 
Mrs. Jones : I don 't see anything about that to make you 

angry. 
Harry: You don't, W'y if he goes there an' spends the 

whole vacation there won't be any left for the rest of 

us, will there? 
Fred : An ' we '11 have to start school if we can 't have 

any of the vacation. 
Mrs. Jones [laughing] : Oh, what foolish little boys! If 



78 CLOSING DAY ENTERTAINMENTS 

you spend all your money that doesn't mean you have 

spent Jim 's, too, does it ? 
Harry [happily] : Oh, is that what it means? 
Fred: An' can we have ours to spend just the same? 
Mrs. Jones: Surely you can, and lots of good times you 

are going to have, I know. 
Harry : Hurrah ! Come on, Fred ! Let 's begin to have 

fun right away. 

[They run from room,] 



THE BEST PLACES 

FOR THREE BOYS AND FIVE GIRLS 

Characters: Marion, Grace, Hattie (a very little girl), 
Lucy, Julius, Harry, Charlie, Edith. 

Marion : 

I 'm going next week to a place full of flowers, 
Papa has bought it, and so it is ours. 
Where are you going ? Do tell me, Grace ? 

Grace : 

I am going to a splendid place. 
Where flowers are thicker than hops, and the birds 
Sing so well, you almost can make out the words. 
Hattie, dear, tell us where you mean to go ? 

Hattie : 
Why, 'course where my mamma does — don't you know? 

Lucy : 

What a queer answer — as if the wee elf 

Could trot off to some place, all by herself. 

/ know where we 're going, it 's close by the sea, 

And it 's just as nice there as a place can be. 

We shall bathe, we shall swim, we shall duck and dive, 



DIALOGUES AND EXERCISES 79 

We shall sail, we shall fish, we shall wa:lk and drive, 
I tell you, I know there 's nothing we shan't do. 
Just as I know there is nothing we can't do. 

Julius : 

Pooh ! we are going to do better than that, 
I just hate the seaside, the country 's so flat. 
We 're going 'way off to the mountains so high, 
That when you 're on top you can just touch the sky. 
They 're a thousand miles high (or maybe it 's feet), 
We go off on picnics with good things to eat. 
Chicken-pies, doughnuts, cakes and sandwiches, too, 
It 's perfectly splendid, with nothing to do. 

Harry : 

But, we shall go riding on top of the hay. 

Lucy : 

And may be get sunstruck some bright shining day. 

Harry : 

I 've never been sunstricken, never at all. 

Charlie : 
But you may be, you know, between now and fall, 
I 'm going to travel as much as a mile. 
But, now, what have I said that makes you all smile? 
I 'm sure it 's dull in one place the whole season. 

Edith : 

0, Charles, do you think so ? Is that the reason 
You will not go up to the Catskills with us ? 
For my part, I hate all the bother and fuss 
Of packing and packing, my dresses and sleeves. 

Charlie : 
But, I don 't wear dresses, my dear, if you please. 



80 CLOSING DAY ENTERTAINMENTS 

Katie : 

I 11 go to a farmhouse, there 's nothing like that. 
They Ve ten cows, three ponies, a dog and a cat. 
They have hens, they have chickens, sweet milk and bread. 
You 'd better all go, if you want to be fed. 

Edith and Julius: 

The mountains, the mountains, I know they are best. 

LucY: 

I stand up for the sea. Now, what say the rest? 

Marion : 

Each place, I suppose, is the best for each one. Wherever 
we go, we 11 surely have fun. 

All : 

All our places are the best. 
Go we east, or go we west. 



GOOD-BY TO THE PUPILS 

Alvin M. Hendee 

for any number of boys and girls 

{TJie different parts of tJie school apparatus tell the pupils 
good-hy. The pupils may or may not dres^ to represent the 
characters speaking.) 

Maps : 

Through all the long and happy days 

We Ve kept our faces bright, 
And tried in all our many ways 
Your minds to guide aright. 



DIALOGUES AND EXERCISES gl 

We Ve always kept within our bounds, 

And tried to please you all ; 
You Ve never looked but that you found 

Us hanging on the wall. 

Charts : 

We bid adieu to every boy, 

And every girlie too ; 
Though we Ve not shared your every joy 

We Ve tried our best to do 
The work we were intended for. 

What more could mortal ask? 
And though we Ve striven, there were times 

We found too great a task. 

Dictionary : 

I always think that on this day, 

Which I most dread to see, 
I 'd surely have something to say, 

Although 't is hard for me. 
But you well know just how it is, 

No odds how hard I try, 
And while I 'm always full of words 

I only say ' ' Good-by. ' ' 

Globe : 

Of all the whole wide world around, 

I Ve told you, o'er and o'er. 
From Hindostan to Puget Sound 

And back to Singapore. 
Yet while I Ve told you all I knew, 

I Ve had a happy time. 
And now good-by to all of you, 

And I will close my rhyme. 



82 CLOSING DAY ENTERTAINMENTS 

Library : 
The wealth of the world I have held out to you, 

And you have enjoyed it, I know; 
And gained in your knowledge the good and the true, 

But now from my presence you go. 
While some of my volumes you scarcely have read, 

There are others you know very w^ell, 
And now, then, farewell, and remember I 've said, 

^^To others your knowledge please tell." 

Blackboard : 
You Ve worked hard on me, and I am black in the face. 

And you are, no doubt, quite content. 
But you Ve made me say things I should like to erase. 

And things that I never have meant. 
As, ^^ Seven times seven are seventy-four," 

And, ''Seven times eight eighty- two," 
But now for a while I '11 be bothered no more, 

So, all my dear pupils, ''Adieu." 

SCHOOLHOUSE : 

No doubt, sometimes you may have come 

To me with lagging feet. 
You always from the cares of home 

Have found a safe retreat. 
And now if this should be the last 

Of your school days, my dear. 
Remember that in days long past 

You were all welcome here. 

— Normal Instructor-Primary Plans 



DIALOGUES AND EXERCISES 

MAEY LOU'S RECITATION 

Marie Irish 
for five girls and two boys 

Characters 



83 



Mrs. Allen^ Mary Lou's 

m oilier. 
Mary Lou, a schoolgirl. 
George^ her brother. 
Nellie, her little sister. 



Grandpa Allen, elderly 

man. 
Grandma Allen, his wife. 
Tilly, the hired girl. 



Costumes: Grandpa should have white hair and ivhiskers {of 
rope or crepe paper), little hlack skull cap, dark suit, spec- 
tacles, and carry a cane; Grandma has hair whitened, some 
dark lines on face, spectacles, a dark dress icith white apron 
and neckerchief ; Mrs. Allen has hair done up on head, long 
dress and work apron; Mary Lou tcears a large bow on hair 
and a ivhite dress small around the waist and too short for 
her; George and Nellie ordinary every-day garments. 

Scene: Living room of Allen home. 

Discovered, Grandpa reading, Grandma sewing, Nellie 
playing with doll, and George looking at a speller. 

George : Well, I 'm glad to-morrow 's the last day of 
school. This old speller will get a rest. Believe me, 
I 11 not study it any during vacation. I just hate 
spelling, the letters in a word have such a mean way 
of getting changed around wrong when you go to 
spell 'em. 

Nellie: WV, I think spelling is easy. C-a-t, cat. 

George : Huh, that 's the only word you can spell. You 
don't know whether spelling is easy or not, silly. 

Enter Mrs. Allen and i\LiRY Lou. 



84 CLOSING DAY ENTERTAINMENTS 

Mrs. Allen: Now I want you folks to be very still and 
not make any noise while Mary Lou practices her 
piece. She has to speak to-morrow because it 's the 
last day of school, an' she 's all fixed up like she '11 
be to-morrow, to see if her clothes fit so now she 's 
going to see how well she can do. Act just like it 
was to-morrow, Mary Lou, and do your best. 

Grandma: Her dress looks real nice. 

Mary Lou : Well, anyway, it pinches 'round the waist. 

Mrs. Allen: Now, Mary Lou, that dress is all right. 
You don't want it way to the ground like an old lady. 

Mary Lou: Well, anyway, it pinches round the waist. 

Mrs. Allen : Did n 't I tell you that you don 't want to 
be big 's a barrel around the waist ? I guess you 
can stand a little squeezing as long as it 's for style. 
Now speak your piece. 

[George giggles and points finger at Mary Lou.] 

Mary Lou: George is makin' fun of me. I can't speak. 

Mrs. Allen : Young man, you behave, or I '11 tend to 
you. This is a serious occasion, because if Mary Lou 
don't practice so 's to do well to-morrow we 'U all be 
disgraced. How 'd you like that ? 

Nellie : Ma, what 's disgraced ? 

Mrs. Allen: Havin' folks laugh at us because Mary 
Lou didn't speak good. 

Grandma: I used to speak pieces when I was a girl — 
real well, too. 

Mrs. Allen: An' so did I. So you see, Mary Lou, it 
runs in the fam'ly, an' you 've got to do your best. 
Now stand up straight an' begin. 

Mary Lou [making a quick little nod of the head] : 
To say good-by at the — 

Mrs. Allen: For goodness' sakes, Mary Lou, you don't 
call that a bow, do you ? 



DIALOGUES AND EXERCISES 85 

Grandma : No, that is n 't a nice bow. This is the kind 
I used to make when I spoke pieces. 
[Comes forward and stands beside Mary Lou, lifts 
skirt at each side, and makes a curtsey.] 

Mrs. Allen: No, ma, that kind is all out of style now- 
adays. She ought to bow like this. [Stands on other 
side of Mary Lou and makes a low how with hands 
out at each side.] I think that is swell. 

Mary Lou: I can't do that. 

Grandma: Yes, you can. You jest try. [Grandma sits.] 

Mary Lou [bowing with hands out at sides, but keeping 
body stiff] : 
To say good-by at the — 

Mrs. Allen : Mercy sakes, Mary Lou, your heart ain 't way 
had swallowed a fishpole an' can't bend. Try again 
an' bend at the waist. 

George : If she bends at the waist, she '11 bust off a but- 
ton — 'er belt 's so tight. [Giggles.] 

Mrs. Allen [to George] : See here, sir, who's speakin' 
this piece — ^you or Mary Lou? You keep still. [To 
Mary Lou] Start again. 

Mary Lou [making low bow with sweep of hands out at 
sides, and bending at waistline] : 

To say good-by at the close of school 
Brings sorrow to the heart — 

Grandma: Seems to me she ought to put a motion in 

there— don't you think, Sarah? 
Mrs. Allen: Yes, to be sure. You must lay your right 

hand over your heart, Mary Lou. An' speak louder. 

Don't act scairt. 
Mary Lou [bowing lower than before and speaking 

louder] : 

To say good-by at the close of school 

Brings sorrow [hand at waistline] to the heart — 



86 CLOSING DAY ENTERTAINMENTS 

Mrs. Allen : Mercy sakes, Mary Lou, your heart ain 't way 
down there! 

George: Folks '11 think she 's got the stomachache. [Gig- 
gles.] 

Mary Lou [to George] : You keep still. [Makes face at 
Jiim.] [Speaks loud and fast] : 
To say good-by at the close of school 
Brings sorrow [hand on heart] to the heart; 
But vacation stands without the door, — 

Mrs. Allen: Now you want another motion in there. 
They 're awful stylish, an' you don't want folks to 
think you 're a greenhorn. Do like this : ' ' But vaca- 
tion stands [points] without the door." 

Mary Lou : 

But vacation stands without the door [points']. 
So schoolmates, we must part — 

Grandma [rising] : Oh, I 've thought of something. Wait 
a minute, Mary Lou, till I come back. [Hurries off.] 

Grandpa [looking np from his hook] : What say? 

Mary Lou: We didn't say anything, grandpa. 

Grandpa : What 's Mary Lou all dressed up for ? 

Nellie : She 's going to speak a piece. 

Grandpa : What 's that about geese ? Whose geese ? 

George [going over to Grandpa and speaking very loud] : 
To-morrow 's the last day of school an' she has to 
speak a piece, an' she 's got her new dress on to see 
if its fits, an' she 's been sayin' her piece so 's to 
have it good to-morrow. 

Grandpa: Oh, yes, yes, I see! Be sure you say it nice 
an' loud, Mary Lou, an' don't you be afraid. You 
can speak jest as good as any of 'em. I 've heard your 
grandma speak pieces when she was a girl, an' your 
ma used to be a real good hand at it — she could speak 
as good as any of 'em. 



DIALOGUES AND EXERCISES 87 

Enter Grandma. 

Grandma : Oh, oh, oh ! Thieves ! I Ve been robbed — 
robbed! Oh, dear, dear me! [Wrings hands and 
7noans.] 

Mrs. Allen : What 's that ? Robbed ? What do you 
mean ? 

Mary Lou: Oh, how awful — will they kill us? 

George : I '11 get the old shotgun. 

Mrs. Allen : No ! no ! you stay here. 

Grandma : Oh, my things I thought so much of ! Oh, oh ! 
[Wipes eyes.] 

Grandpa [coming forward] : What say, mother? What 's 
the matter? 

Grandma : Oh, I Ve been robbed ! [Shouts at him] Rob- 
bers! 

Grandpa: Where, where? I '11 fix 'em. [Limps around 
room waving his cane in the air.] Didn't I fight 
in the Civil War ? I '11 show 'em ! 

Mrs. Allen : Now ma, you tell me what you 've lost. I 
don't guess there 's been any robbers in the house. 
What 's gone? [Grandpa comes close to listen.] 

Grandma : Well, when Mary Lou was making them nice 
motions in 'er piece, I thought how splendid it would 
look if she 'd wear my gold bracelet and that ring 
with the stone in that jest fits 'er, 'cause they'd 
show off so nice when she waves her hands in the 
air. So I went to git them an' let 'er try 'em, an' — 
they 're gone. Stolen ! 

Grandpa: Well, well, well! If that ain't the beatinest 
thing ! If I knew who 't was that took 'em I 'd fix 
'em. [Waves cane.] I 'm an old fighter from the 
Civil War. 

Mrs. Allen : Well, that sure is dreadful queer. I wonder 
if— if- 



88 CLOSING DAY ENTERTAINMENTS 

Grandma : I wonder if that new hired girl took 'em. We 
don't know much about 'er. 

Mrs. Allen: I 11 ask 'er a' see if she acts guilty. [Calls,] 
Tilly. Tilly, come here. 

Enter Tilly. 

Tilly: Well, here I be, ma'am, an' I hope you don't 
want me long, for I 'm hustlin' like a house afire 
to git the work finished, so 's to git ready for a party 
I 'm goin' to with the young man that 's workin' over 
to Peter Brink's — an' a nice young fellow he is, too, 
ma'am. 

Mrs. Allen : I wanted to ask you, Tilly, if you — that is, 
to tell you that — you see, my mother has had some 
jewelry taken, and I — that is — 

Grandma: Oh, how could anybody steal my lovely gold 
bracelet an' ring with a purple set? Oh, dear! 

Grandpa [waving cane] : The one that took it's got me 
to answer with. I fit in the Civil War. 

Tilly [angrily] : An' so you think I stole yer jewelry, 
do you ? An ' I '11 tell you, ma 'am, I 'm a good honest 
girl an' I won't stand for any of such treatment, 
which is slander an' blackguardin, ' ma'am — an' I '11 
show you that you can't say such things as that I 
stole yer old bracelet an' ring. I guess I 've got 
jewelry of my own, ma'am. I '11 go right now an' 
send for a policeman to arrest you all for slander 
an' he '11 put you all in jail — so there! 

Mary Lou: Oh, ma, don't let her send for a policeman. 
She didn't take 'em. I — I — honest, she didn't take 'em. 

Tilly [angrily] : I guess I didn't! 

Mrs. Allen : I did n't say you did, Tilly. I merely asked 
if you knew about them. 

Mary Lou: I — I know where they are, ma. [Weeps,] 

Mrs. Allen: You? What do you know about them? 



DIALOGUES AND EXERCISES 89 

Mary Lou : Well, I — I thought they 'd look so nice on me 
when I spoke my piece, an' I thought grandma 
wouldn't lend 'em to me, so I borrowed 'em to wear 
to-morrow— then I was goin' to put 'em back. I 
didn't think it would be any sin, an' they'd look 
so fine on me! [We&ps,] 

Grandma [patting Mary Lou on shoulder] : Now/ now 
don't you cry, Mary Lou. I don't mind a bit, so 
long 's they 're safe. 

Mary Lou : They 're upstairs in my drawer. 

Tilly : There now, ma 'am, what do you think of yourself 
for makin' so much trouble for a poor innocent girl 
like me, that never stole so much as a pin? 

Mrs. Allen: I 'm very sorry, Tilly. You go along an' git 
ready for the party an' let the rest of the work go. 

Tilly: All right, ma'am. [Exit.] 

Mrs. Allen: Now, Mary Lou, let's go find that bracelet 
an' ring an' put 'em on, so 's you can practice your 
piece till you do it best of anybody there. But next 
time you ask for what you want to borrow. 

Mary Lou: Yes, ma, I will. 

Grandpa: An' I didn't git a chance to fight after all! 

curtain 

WHAT THE LESSONS SAY 

Lizzie M. Hadley 

for seven children in the intermediate grade 

First Pupil: 

Never before hath a fairer day 

In the heart of the summer nestled away 

Than this, that comes with the year's work done, 

To tell you vacation has almost begun. 



90 CLOSING DAY ENTERTAINMENTS 

Not quite, for if you Ve the time to hear, 

Some of the lessons we Ve studied this year 

Are waiting beside me. They Ve something to say. 

See ! there is one of them coming this way. 

School : 
What is your name, and pray who are you ? 

Alphabet : 

I am the alphabet. How do you do ? 

By this time you should have learned, pretty well, 
All the stories my wee, crooked letters can tell. 
You can't read without me, but I Ve yet to see 
The boy or girl who was e 'er fond of me. 

But that matters not, for my duty I know ; 
'T is to help you along in the way you should go. 
You must all get acquainted with me some day. 
And of course you find work is much harder than play. 

You will learn that my letters all wisdom combine. 
So this bit of advice let me give you, ''Don't whine;" 
And don't stand complaining like some silly dunce 
When there 's work to be done, but go at it at once. 

That is all I will say, for another comes quick. 

School : 

My friend, who are you ? 

Arithmetic : 

0, I 'm Arithmetic ! 

I Ve worked pretty hard in the years flying past 

To make you grow wiser, but time goes so fast 



DIALOGUES AND EXERCISES 91 

That though I have used every minute and second. 
There are still many things you ought to have reckoned. 

You can add and subtract, multiply and divide, 
Know something of fractions and cube root beside ; 
Can measure out coal, potatoes, and milk. 
An acre of land or a yard of blue silk; 

But, unless you should reach old Methuselah's age, 
I could still find new lessons your time to engage ; 
Yet, I think on the whole you have done very well. 
But here comes another, with a story to tell. 

School : 

We are pleased, my good friend, your face now to see ; 
Pray, what is your name? 

Geography : 
I am Geography. 

Of continents, islands, and capes I well know ; 
Of mountains, whose tops are all covered with snow ; 
Of rivers, whose waters sweep on to the sea. 
And many more things could be told you by me. 

But more time it would take than you can well spare, 

For see where approaches, with majestic air, 

A fair little maiden so prim and precise. 

With speech that is careful, profound, and concise. 

Grammar : 

They call me Miss Grammar and 't is my place to teach 
The names and the uses of each part of speech ; 
I show where a verb or a pronoun should stand, 
And here 's Punctuation with me hand in hand. 

Punctuation : 

I come with Miss Grammar, and this is my task — 
When your voice you let fall or a question you ask, 



92 CLOSING DAY ENTERTAINMENTS 

When you stop at a eomma, or exclaim in surprise, 
With both hands uplifted and wide open eyes, 

To be there to direct, and in every case 

To put each little mark in its own proper place. 

Though this is not all, it is all I will tell. 

For here is a lesson with words you should spell. 

Spelling : 
Yes, I am the ' ' Spelling-Book. ' ' Stand here in line 
If you want me to teach you these lessons of mine. 
O ! is n 't it funny when learning to spell, 
What curious stories the letters will tell? 

It seems such a task to know right from wrong. 
And they 're quite certain just, where they belong. 
Have you noticed how seldom the vowels agree? 
And that i, often gets in the place of an ef 

But perhaps you have heard all you care for to-day; 
If so, I had better be running away. 

All: 

Yet all will be back to begin the school year, 
And now we must go, for Vacation is here. 



VACATION JOYS 

FOR TEN GIRLS AND TEN BOYS 

[First Girl and First Boy advance from opposite sides of 
the room and stop within a few feet of the center,] 

First Girl: 

What is the first thing you will do 
When you are out and school is through? 



DIALOGUES AND EXERCISES 93 

First Boy: 

What will I do when I get out? 

Why, you will hear an awful noise, 
And you may know the loudest shout 

Among the crowd of us schoolboys 
Will be myself, beyond a doubt, 
Just thinking of vacation joys. 
[These two step hack near the ivall, 'beginning the forma- 
tion of a semi-circle as the second boy and girl 
advance.] 

Second Boy : 

What is the first thing you will do 

When school time for the summer 's through ? 

Second Girl: 

Oh, I will start out on a run, 

And every one I know and meet 
I 'U tell them that our school is done ; 

And it will be, oh, such a treat! 
You know 'twill be such lots of fun, 

For telling news is awful sweet. 

Third Girl [as first]. 

Third Boy: 

Oh, I will give the wildest screech, 

And then will make my highest spring, 
And catch what tree branch I can reach 

And up among the boughs I '11 swing ; 
Then shout the news to passers each 

Until I make the whole air ring. 

Fourth Boy [as second]. 



94 CLOSING DAY ENTERTAINMENTS 

Fourth Girl: 

When I am out I '11 laugh for glee, 

And laugh and laugh and get my fill, 
No matter what folks think of me; 

For really how can one keep still? 
It is so jolly to be free 

And do whatever one may will. 

Fifth Girl [as first]. 

Fifth Boy: 

When I am out, why, I shall feel 

Like tumbling o 'er and o 'er and o 'er, 
So I myself will be a wheel 

And tumble till I Ve turned a score ; 
And when the boys will shout and squeal 

I 11 only tumble more and more. 

Sixth Boy [as second]. 

Sixth Girl: 

When I get out I 11 skip, not walk. 

And sing some of our parting song, 
I think the time I 11 drum with stalks 

Of some tall weeds, if they are strong. 
I will not even care to talk 

For ever and ever so long. 

Seventh Girl [as first]. 

Seventh Boy: 

When I am out I 11 start and nm, 

And run so fast and far away. 
And when at last my race is done, 



DIALOGUES AND EXERCISES 95 

I 11 toss my books and have a play, 
And, oh! it will be lots of fun 
To be outdoors the whole long day. 

Eighth Boy : [as second] . 

Eighth Girl: 

I know that round and round I '11 dance, 

But first I'll kiss my teacher, too, 
If I can see the slightest chance, 

And kiss the other girls all adieu; 
And then, without another glance, 

I '11 dance away till out of view. 

Ninth Girl [as first]. 

Ninth Boy: 

I think I '11 be so wild with joy, 

No doubt I '11 try to do each thing 
That 's done by every other boy, 

And roll and shout and run and spring. 
To make no noise would sure destroy 

The fun that all vacations bring. 

Tenth Boy [as second]. 

Tenth Girl: 

I think with all that will be done, 

The minute that vacation 's here. 
That I will be the only one 

Who has not one idea that 's clear 
Of what to do 'mid all the fun. 

And so I think I '11 stand and cheer. 



96 CLOSING DAY ENTERTAINMENTS 

[The pupils should now be in the form of a semi-circle, 
the boys on one side and the girls on the other.] 

First Girl [stepping forward] : 

It seems to us that all you boys 

Just think of naught but making noise. 

First Boy [steppiiig before her] : 

To us 'tis fun that you call din, 
And, oh! I wish it would begin. 

Boys [sing, air: ^^ Yankee DoodW] : 

Vacation 's here, and all the sports 

That boys can e'er be wishing, 
With all the world to play them in, 

And we will rest while fishing. 

All [together] : 

Playing, playing, keep it up, 

Do not be a dandy. 
Heed your manners, mind the rules> 

And in all games be handy. 

Girls : 

Vacation 's here and we will have 

Some time to dress our dollies, 
And time to sew and wash for them 

And play go to Aunt Polly's. 

All [together] : 

Often in our play we'll join, 
Both boys and girls together. 
Outdoors when the days are fine, 
And indoors in wet weather. 

[March off, boys whistling the air.] 



DIALOGUES AND EXERCISES 97 

OUR WOEK 
E. L. Brown 

FOR FIVE GIRLS 



All: 



We are a band of merry school-girls, 

And for us life 's just begun ; 
But we know from faithful teaching, 

Life was meant for more than fun. 
So we all are working, thinking 

Of the part we are to play — 
Of the earnest work we '11 do. 

In the busy world some day. 
Each has chosen her vocation, 

Each intends to learn it well; 
Would you like to hear about it? 

This is what we come to tell. 

First Girl: 

I shall be a music teacher, 

In some city far away; 
I shall try to make my pupils 

Practice faithfully every day. 
I know that I shall love my work. 

And through the year till leafy June, 
I shall spend my time m teaching 

Scales and chords, and time and tune. 

Second Girl: 

I shall be a stenographer, 

In the time we call ^^some day;'* 
I will take your letters down 

In the quickest kind of way. 



98 CLOSING DAY ENTERTAINMENTS 

On the typewriter I will print them 
In style correct and neat, 

And almost before you know it — 
Your letter will be complete. 

Third Girl: 

I shall be a trained nurse, 

When I 'm old enough to be, 
And when any of you are sick — 

Perhaps you 11 call on me. 
I '11 give you the best of care, 

And be cheerful day and night ; 
The medicine I '11 never forget ; 

The pillows I '11 place just right. 

Fourth Girl: 

When I 'm grown to be a woman, 

A doctor I mean to be. 
And then all my dear friends 

May come and be treated free. 
I '11 do all the good that I can — 

I '11 teach people how to keep well ; 
And that is better than curing the sick, 

As any of you can tell. 

Fifth Girl: 

In the years that are to come, 

A teacher I shall be, 
And all your dear little ones, 

Please send to school to me. 
My schoolroom will be pleasant, 

The lessons easy, too; 
And I will always teach the children 

To be faithful, good, and true. 



DIALOGUES AND EXERCISES 99 

All: 

And such is our work to be, 

In the coming busy years; 
We will be well prepared, 

And therefore have no fears. 
Each one of us is eager 

In the world to do her part; 
And will willingly use the strength 

Of hands, and brain, and heart. 



THE CLOSE OF SCHOOL 

Marie Irish 

marching song for twelve (more or less) children 

Tune: Many Flags in Many Lands^ 

Form two single files, with tallest member in each line 
leading, the others arranged according to height, with the 
shortest member in each file at the rear. One file comes on 
at right corner front, the other at left. Each child has a 
garland of spring flowers and green branches, held against 
the left shoulder with the right hand. Girls should also 
wear flowers or vines in the hair. If boys and girls both 
take part, let a boy lead one file and a girl the other. Files 
enter as they begin to sing; file from right passing to left 
corner back in diagonal line, the other going to right corner 
of back, lines crossing at center of stage. From corners of 
back they pass to form two lines across the back of stage, 
one line in front of the other, all facing front. They should 
be in position in these lines at the close of the first stanza ; 
if they get into position before its close the lines mark time 
until chorus begins. 



1 Music in New Common-School Song Book, by L. Rountree 
Smith and others, price, 60 cents. 



100 CLOSING DAY ENTERTAINMENTS 

1. Oh, the bright spring days have come again. 
List! the birds are singing gay, 
And the sunshine calls us forth from school 
For a long, long holiday. 

As chorus begins they march up stage abreast, in two 
lines, to near the front, where those on front line face right, 
those on back line face left, and they pass as shown in 
Diagram 1. They should be back in lines facing the front, 
as they were when they topped marching abreast, when 
the chorus is finished. 




Diagram 1 

Chorus : 

So it 's good-by to school and teacher dear, 

Put all the books away; 
Vacation calls and merrily 

'Mid the summer flow'rs we *11 play. 

The line with leader standing near right side faces the 
right, the other line faces the left; files pass in diagonal 
lines, one to center of right side, other to center of left, 
then to center of back of stage, where they turn and go to 
comers of back and halt in lines along sides, facing each 
other. (Diagram 2.) They should be in these lines along 
sides at the close of second stanza ; if they get there sooner, 
mark time till the chorus begins. When chorus starts lines 
march forward abreast till they meet along center of stage, 
then all face back and march around as in Diagram 3 and 
back again to places in lines along center. 



DIALOGUES AND EXERCISES 



101 




Diagram 2 



• • ; 

! • • ; 

.^j^.. J • # I -.igi^^r' 

— -•- ; • • : 

-•- ' • • ! 



Diagram 3 



2. We are fond of school, because we know 
That 'tis books improve the mind; 
But in play beneath the summer sun * 

Health as well as joy we '11 find. 

— ChoruSy as before 

The files face front as soon as they get back to places dur- 
ing the second chorus and mark time till the close of 
chorus, when all face the back ; one leader leads to right cor- 
ner of back, the other to left corner, then down and form 
a circle at either side of the stage, as shown in Diagram 4. 
Stand in circles, marking time till the third stanza is 
finished; then, during the words of the chorus, each circle 
rotates ; one from right to left, the other from left to right. 
Rotate twice, then stand marking time until chorus is 
finished. 



\ 



^' 



Diagram 4 



Oh, the feet that lagging went to school 
Now shall hasten forth to play; 



102 CLOSING DAY ENTERTAINMENTS 

And we '11 rest beneath the leafy trees, 
Where the branches sigh and sway. 



— Chorus 



The leader of circle on the left leads across to right of 
stage, while the leader on the right leads across to the left ; 
then from left side to right corner of front and down right 
side to back, while the other file passes from right side to left 
corner of front and down left side to back. Here they 
form two lines across back of stage, facing the front and 
mark time nntil close of the fourth stanza. (Diagram 5.) 




Diagram 5 



With a fond farewell we part to meet 

In this pleasant room once more, 
When we hear the school bell calling iis, 
And vacation days are o'er. 



— Chorus 



As the last chorus is begun, the files march up stage 
abreast in two lines to front ; one leader turns to right, other 
to left, files pass to corners of front — sides to back, across 
to center of back, where the tw^o from each line as they meet 
form couple. They come up center in couples with flowers 
raised and crossed (X) ; then turn to right corner and 
exeunt. As the lines come up to the front abreast, the 
flow^ers should be raised and held up and forw^ard, and 
slightly waved from side to side, until the couples are 
formed at back of stage. 



SONGS AND MUSIC 

WELCOME SONG^ 

Welcome here, welcome here, 
Friends we love with hearts sincere. 
Joyful we, all to see, 
Oh, how happy we shall be! 
Here our lessons we review, 
Here we sing our songs to you ; 
Happy hours, growing powers, 
May all purest joys be ours. 

All around, all around, 
Smiles of love and joy abound. 
Happy days, cheerful lays. 
Oh, the joyful schooltime days; 
Day by day we must improve, 
Make returns for care and love ; 
Happy hours, growing powers, 
May all purest joys be ours. 

APPROACH OF VACATION 

Lettie E. Sterling 

Tune: Lightly Row^ 

Roses bloom; 
Their perfume 
Says, ''Vacation 's almost here.'' 

103 



104 CLOSING DAY ENTERTAINMENTS 

Bees now hum, 
*^Soon 'twill come," 
Let lis give a cheer. 



Each new day 

Seems to say, 
''Nearer, nearer it is brought." 

And the star, 

Up so far. 
Twinkles, ^^It 's 'most caught." 



As winds pass, 

Blades of grass. 
Daisies, roses, buttercups 

Gracefully 

Nod, ^^Ho-he! 
Soon with us it sups." 



Can't you guess 

Why we dress 
Lovely thoughts in words of cheer? 

'T is 'cause we 

Plainly see 
That vacation 's near. 



Soon, all day 

We can play. 
Run and shout and laugh and go ; 

When our fun 

Has begun, 
Best of health we '11 know. 



SONGS AND MUSIC 105 

GOOD-BY TO LESSONS 
Tune: '^Good-by to Summer' ' 

Good-by, good-by to lessons, 

For the year is nearly done, 

For the year is nearly done. 
We Ve worked and watched and waited, 

Vacation is begun. 
Our books and slates are resting, 

The blackboard 's very neat, 
And now our work is finished, 

Vacation will be sweet. 

Our friends are gathered with us 

To keep the happy day. 

To keep the happy day. 
We welcome them with gladness 

To join our merry lay. 
We '11 do our best to please them 

With speeches and with song, 
And promise, for their patience. 

Not to keep them very long. 



VACATION'S CALL 

Marie Irish 
Tune: Tramp, Tramp , TrampP 

In the air there is a voice, 
On the breeze its tone comes clear, 
And it is a call we gladly shall obey! 
Oh, it makes our hearts rejoice, 



106 CLOSING DAY ENTERTAINMENTS 

For that voice we love to hear, 

'Tis vacation calling us from school away. 

Chorus : 

Tra, la, la, vacation 's coming, 

Pack your books and store them 'way; 

Good-by, school, we 're tired of you 

No more lessons we shall do, 

Tra, la, la, vacation comes, hooray, hooray ! 

Singing birds and leafy dells, 
Shady trees and skies of blue, 

And the meadows where the fragrant flowers grow, 
Coax us from our books away, 
Call us to learn lessons new, 

Good-by, school! vacation's here — we '11 have to go. 

— Chorus 

'Rithmetic and History 

Are quite useful, we agree. 

While at Grammar one should also take a try; 

But the page of Nature fair, 

Written o'er with flower and tree, 

Now allures us, we must go — so, school, good-by! 

— Chorus 



HAIL, VACATION! 

Time: Hail, Columbia!^ 

Hail, vacation! happy time! 
Let our voices gaily chime, 

For our work is at an end; 
As now from school we are released, 



SONGS AND MUSIC 107 

Joy and pleasure are increased, 
If in our lessons we have been 
Ever faithful, bound to win, 
Ever grateful for our school, 
Obedient to the teacher's rule. 

Chorus : 
Gay and happy let us be, 
Like the birds, we now are free, 
During summer 's smiling hours. 
To play among the trees and flowers. 

Now the parting hour has come; 
Finished is the last hard sum, 

To teachers dear we bid adieu. 
To-day will be the very last 
Where happiest days have quickly passed. 
While offering thanks, true and sincere. 
For useful lessons gathered here. 
We '11 keep in memory schoolmates all, 
And hope to meet again next fall. 



-Chorus 



EDUCATION^ 
S. F. Smith 

(Two of the eight original stanzas of America) 
Our glorious Land to-day, 
'Neath Education's sway 

Soars upward still. 
Its halls of learning fair. 
Whose bounties all may share, 
Behold them everywhere 

On vale and hill ! • 



108 CLOSING DAY ENTERTAINMENTS 

The safeguard, Liberty, 
The school shall ever be. 

Our Nation's pride! 
No tyrant hand shall smite. 
While with encircling might 
All here are taught the Eight 

With Truth allied. 

THE LAST DAY OF SCHOOL 

Tune : Juanita 

Happy the children 
Standing in life 's rosy dawn ; 
Happy the children 

While the years, roll on. 
Precious hours of childhood, 
All the world for us is new ; 
Home or school or wildwood, 

Earth and sky so blue. 

Chorus : 

Sunlight and moonlight, 
Down the lanes of life we roam ; 
Starlight and firelight. 
Wondrous days to come. 

Welcome vacation, 

All our books are put away; 

Welcome vacation, 

Joyous days of play. 
Chime, bells of morning ! 
Follows fast life's shining noon; 
Chime, bells of morning ! 

Night is here too soon. 

— Chorus 



SONGS AND MUSIC 109 

Life lies before us, 

Days of play and work and tears ; 

Life lies before ns, 

Bearing hopes and fears. 
Bravely, then, classmates, 
Strike the mighty chords of time ; 
Falter not, classmates. 

Make life's song sublime. 

— Chorus 



VACATION 'S HERE 

Tune: Work for the Night Is Coming 

Now is our labor ended, 

Welcome vacation 's joys; 

All hearts are filled with gladness, 

Happy girls and boys. 
Sing till the walls re-echo, 
Sing with a right good cheer, 
Sing that we all are merry, 

For vacation 's here. 

Work has been hard and earnest 
Playtime will be most sweet, 
With bluest skies above us. 

Flowers at our feet ! 
Sing till the walls re-echo. 
Sing with a right good cheer. 
Sing that we all are merry^ 

For vacation 's here. 

Now may vacation give us 
Happiness, strength, and health; 



110 CLOSING DAY ENTERTAINMENTS 

These are the best of blessings, 

These are truly wealth. 
Sing till the walls re-echo, 
Sing with a right good cheer, 
Sing that we all are merry, 
For vacation 's here. 



GOOD-BY TO SCHOOL 

Marie Irish 

Tune: Mount Vernon Bells^ 

Good-by, school, vacation 's coming, 

We '11 lay our books away ; 
Good-by school, we 're going to leave you. 

For a long, long holiday. 
Hushed shall be the clanging school bell, 

Still the clock's soft tone; 
Poor dear schoolroom, you '11 be gloomy 

When you 're left here all alone. 

Chorus : 

No merry voices here shall laugh and shout, 
Hip, hooray, vacation 's coming ! 
We '11 be free when school is out. 

Through the months we have been faithful, 

We 've studied long and well. 
Tried each day to do our duty 

Now we want a resting spell. 
Schoolmates who have met together, 

Lessons here to learn, 
Now will study Mother Nature, 

And her wondrous truths discern. 

— Chorus 



SONGS AND MUSIC HI 

Good-by, teacher, we must leave you — 

The parting brings a sigh ; 
But the lessons you have taught us 

Shall remain as years pass by ; 
Farewell, schoolmates, let 's be loyal, 

Nobly live and well, 
Till once more we meet together 

At the clanging of the bell. 

Chorus to last verse : 

Welcome, vacation, merry be, and then 
We '11 be happy when the school bell 
Calls us here to meet again. 



WOODLAND VOICES CALLING 

Alice M. Kellogg 
Tune: Old Folks at Home (Suwanee River)^ 

Once comes again the joyous season. 

Summer is here ; 
School over, work and study ended. 

Vacation dear! 
Hear the woodland voices calling. 

Birdies, brooks and flowers. 
Haste from the hot and crowded city, 

Rest in the fragrant bowers. 

All through the bright and gladsome summer 

Vacation 's ours ; 
Joyous we hail with happy freedom 

Long, sunny, restful hours. 
Hail, vacation, happy season. 

Books now closed must be, 



112 CLOSING DAY ENTERTAINMENTS 

Green woodland shade so cool invites us, 
Spreading its balm so free. 

When the yellow leaves and red of antumn 

Tinge forest grand, 
Then to the now deserted schoolroom 

Turns back the merry band. 
Now, vacation we will hasten 

Far from toil and care, 
September 's call again will find us 

Ready for duty there. 



GRADUATES' SONG 

John R. Dennis 
Tune: Auld Lang Syne 

And now the parting hour has come — 

To-day will be the last — 
To our dear school we bid adieu 

Where happiest days have passed. 

Chorus : 

Of old times here, my friends, 

Of old times here, 
We '11 think with joy in future years 
Of old times here. 

We 're bound to leave our teachers kind, 

And schoolmates tried and true — 
We '11 keep in memory each and all. 

And oft the past review. 

— Chorus 



SONGS AND MUSIC 113 

Thanks for the lessons gathered here, 

Improving heart and mind; 
All those who 've sought for wisdom's ways 

A true reward shall find. 

— Chorus 

Oh, comrades, some afar will roam, 

And tired the feet become, 
Yet oft the thought of old times here 

Will chase away the gloom. 

— Chorus 

ONE HEAET— ONE WAY 

Ella M. Beach 

Tune: ^^Days of Absence^' or ^^Zion^^ 

Classmates dear, the fleeting moments 

Tell us that the time draws nigh. 
When with clasped hands we '11 utter. 
Saddest of all words, ^^Good-by." 
Speak them lowly, 
Sadly, slowly, 
Best of friends must say ^ ^ good-by. ' ' 

Pleasant hours we Ve spent together, 

Hours of profit, too, w^e know ; 
Let us for each act of kindness. 
Leave our thanks before we go. 
Each to other, 
Sister, brother. 
Heartfelt thanks with joy bestow. 

Let our noble motto, ever 

Be our bright and guiding star. 
With ^^ one-heart" as 'twere for duty, 



114 CLOSING DAY ENTERTAINMENTS 

Our ''one way" will lead us where 
Joy unmeasured 
He has treasured 
For his faithful workers here. 

BEAUTIFUL HOUKS, GOLDEN HOURS! 

Tune: Silent Night 

Beautiful hours, golden hours, 
Childhood's day 'mid sun-kissed flowers, 
Days so free from all sorrow and care, 
Blithesome as bird-song, and pure as prayer,. 

Sweet will thy memory be, 

Sweet will thy memory be. 

Beautiful days, hallowed days. 
Loyal hearts will sing thy praise; 
And on the tide of the coming years 
May thy sweet memory quiet our fears, 
And keep us clean and strong, 
And keep us clean and strong. 

Fare thee well, fare thee well. 

Fairest flower in memory's dell! 

To teachers and playmates, so kind and so true, 

Ere we depart we would say to you, 

''God bless you everywhere, 

God bless you everywhere. ' ' 

GOOD-BY* 
W. 0. Gushing 
Good-by, good-by. 



"We hope again to meet you ; 

Good-by, good-by, 

We hope again to meet you, 



SONGS AND MUSIC 115 

When summer blooms are rarest, 
"When summer skies are fairest, 
When laughing rills gleam down the hills, 
And friends and hopes are dearest. 

6ood-by, good-by, 

The glad bright day is over ; 

Good-by, good-by. 

The glad bright day is over, 
Our songs of praise ascending. 
With love's sweet incense blending; 

In joyful lays we 11 chant His praise, 
Till life's last day is ending. 

Good-by, good-by. 

Good cheer and love be with you ; 

Good-by, good-by, 

Good cheer and love be with you. 

May Christ, our Saviour, lead us, 

In heavenly pastures feed us; 
And bring us home, no more to roam, 

Forever more to lead us. 



OUR GLAD VACATION 

Ada Simpson Sherwood 
Tune: The Battle-Cry of Freedom^ 

Come, boys and girls, with happy hearts, come raise a merry 
song, 
Shouting with joy for glad vacation ; 
We '11 greet our bright vacation time with cheering loud 
and strong, 
Shouting with joy for glad vacation. 



116 CLOSING DAY ENTERTAINMENTS 

Chorus : 
Through woodland and meadow our song shall be heard, 
As free as a squirrel, as blithe as a bird ; 
With joyous laugh and merry song we '11 have a holiday. 

Shouting with joy for glad vacation. 

We '11 seek the haunts where woodbirds sing, and sweetest 
wild flowers grow. 
Shouting with joy for glad vacation ; 
Of nature's ever opening book we '11 gladly strive to know 
Shouting with joy for glad vacation. 

— Chorus 

We play, and sing, and work, and grow, till our vacation 's 
o 'er, 
Shouting with joy for glad vacation; 
And for this time of joy and rest we '11 love our schoolroom 
more. 
Shouting with joy for glad vacation. 

— Chorus 



NOW OUE SCHOOL IS OVER 

Tune: ^^ Battle Hymn of the Republic^ '^ 

Now our school is over, oh, how jolly to be free ! 
To run in the fields of clover with the butterfly and bee ! 
We will lay aside our troubles now and sing the jubilee; 
Vacation time is here. 

Chorus : 

Glory, glory, hallelujah, etc., 
Vacation time is here. 



I 



SONGS AND MUSIC 117 

Through the woods we '11 ramble, and spend the whole 

day long 
Where the birds sit in the branches and fill the air with 

song ; 
We will tune our hearts to gladness, and forget all thoughts 
of wrong ; 

Vacation time is here. 

— Chorus 

Early in the morning we will take a line and hook, 
And wander through the valley, up and doA\Ti the bub- 
bling brook, 
And learn a lot of lessons that are not in any book; 
Vacation time is here. 

— Chorus 

GRADUATION SONG 

George Cooper 
Tune: Hail, ColumiiaP 

Our school-days now are past and gone, 

And yet we fondly linger here ; 
For sweet each joy that we have known : 

'T is sad to part from comrades dear. 
The world before us brightly lies. 

Yet here fond mem 'ry loves to dwell ; 
With saddened hearts and dewy eyes 

We bid to all a sweet farewell! 

Farewell ! Farewell ! 

We bid to all a sweet farewell ! 

Long will our hearts recall each joy 

That bounds us in sweet friendship here ; 



118 CLOSING DAY ENTERTAINMENTS 

For time can nevermore destroy 
The light of mem'ry burning clear. 

Of other scenes and other cares 
Our lips must now their story tell ; 

Each heart your tender mem'ry shares, 
Teachers and comrades, now farewell! 

Farewell ! Farewell ! 

Teachers and comrades, now farewell! 



VACATION TIME IS COMING 
Tune: When Johnny Comes Marching Home 

Vacation time is coming now, 

Hurrah! hurrah! 
We '11 raise our hats and make a bow, 

Hurrah! hurrah! 
Oh, what a happy time of year! 
We 11 give a rousing, hearty cheer. 
And we '11 shout and sing, for vacation time is here, 
And we '11 shout and sing, for vacation time is here. 

We love our books and studies, too, 

Hurrah ! hurrah ! 
We strive with joy each task to do, 

Hurrah ! hurrah ! 
But they would never seem so dear, 
If school days lasted all the year; 
And we '11 shout and sing, for vacation time is here. 
And we '11 shout and sing, for vacation time is here. 

We love our teachers, kind and good, 

Hurrah! hurrah! 
They 've worked to help us all they could, 

Hurrah! hurrah! 



SONGS AND MUSIC 119 

But for vacation time, you know; 

Their seeds of wisdom could not grow ; 

So we '11 shout and sing, for vacation time is here, 

So we 11 shout and sing, for vacation time is here. 

To school and books we bid adieu, 

Hurrah! hurrah! 
And, teacher, here 's a bow to you, 

Hurrah! hurrah! 
We 're glad vacation comes along. 
For work and play will make us strong, 
And we '11 shout for joy when school begins again, 
And we '11 shout for joy when school begins again. 



MUSIC FOR PRECEDING VERSES 

^Music is to be found in Best Primary Songs, by Amos M. Kel- 
logg", price, 20 cents. 

^Music in Songs We Like Best, price, 12 cents. 

'Music in New Common-School Song Book, by L. Rountree Smith 
and others, price, 60 cents. 

*Music in Merry Melodies, by S. C. Hanson, price, 20 cents. 



120 



CLOSING DAY ENTERTAINMENTS 



VACATION GLEE 

Louisa P. Hopkins Arthur Sullivan 



Now comes the va - ca-tioDithe uiep • ly va - ca-tion^No care an4 uo 



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play and fair weath-er and rare fuu to - geth-er, Long days of the 



SONGS AND MUSIC 
VACATION GLEE (Continued) 



121 



y^ J ^ J I }■_ j J J II I j i| ii|~ 



suiu-mer to' pass, 



To gath - er its tlow-ers, to 



J || ! ijl I i i«TT ij f Mj ' ff 



rest ill its bow-ers, to lie in its green waving grass Then 



r r r ir r r i| r I ii r I ii I i 



wel-come va - ca - tion, good - bye all vex • a - tion, The task and the 




no troub-Ie bor - row, Good - bye for this year to the school. 



122 



CLOSING DAY ENTERTAINMENTS 



VACATION TIME 

L. RouNTREE Smith Clarence L. Riege 



^t^fe=J^^ifa^^^^M^Ji^^g^ 



1. Va - ca - tion time, Va - ca - tion time, June has come a - gain ! Va - 
•2. Va - ca - tion 's come, Va - ca - tion 's come,Ros - es are a - bloom — Now 



m 



N N 



i H^ J\ p=^^=^ 



W 



ca -- tion time, Va - ca - tion time ! In the wood - land glen, 
^hool is done, Now school is done — Smell the sweet per - fume. 



fe-MU^-^r_[ii^:rf:::^:^^Q ^ 



Sing a song for mer - ry June — All the world is then in tune. 
Pret-ty birds up in the tree, Fra-grant flow - ers on the lea — 



p J. j'^^^^iF^ 



h 0. 



r~c n 



st=ti= 



Glad va - ca - tion 's com - ing soon — June is here a - gain ! 
They *fe .* no hap - pi - er than we — Mer - ry, mer - ry June ! 



CLASS MOTTOES 

1. Age quod agis — Finish what you attempt. 

2. Aim at a definite end. 

3. Always upward. 

4. At the foothills, climbing. 

5. Climb, tho' the rocks be rugged. 

6. Darkness brings out the stars. 

7. Deeds, not words. 

8. End — there is none. 

9. Energy wins. 

10. Esse, quam videri — To be, rather than to seem. 

11. Ever on. 

12. Excelsior. 

13. Find a way or make one. 

14. Finis coronat opus — The end crowns the work. 

15. From possibility to reality. 

16. Gradatim — Step by step. 

17. Grit wins. 

18. Hail to-morrow! Speed to-day! 

19. Haste not, rest not. 

20. Here endeth ; here beginneth. 

21. Hilltops ; mountains are in view. 

22. Honors wait at labor's gate. 

23. Impossible is un-American. 

24. Labor conquers all. 

25. Launched, but whither bound? 

26. Look forward, not backward. 

27. Look up — and on ! 

28. Make way! 

29. More beyond. 

123 



124 CLOSING DAY ENTERTAINMENTS 

30. Ng ientes, aut perfice — Attempt not, or accomplish 

thoroughly. 

31. Never say die. 

32. Noblesse oblige — Nobility has its obligations. 

33. Non incaustus ftttiiri — Not heedless of the future. 

34. Non palma sine labore — No victory without labor. 

35. Not finished; just begun. 

36. Not for school, but for life we learn. 

37. Now or never. 

38. Ominia vincit labor — Labor overcomes all things. 

39. On to victory. 

40. Onward. 

41. Out of the harbor, out on the deep. 

42. Palma non sine pulvere — No excellence without labor. 

43. Per aspera ad astra — Through trials to glory. 

44. Prepared for better things. 

45. Eespice finem — Look to the end. 

46. Eowing, not drifting. 

47. Sail on ! 

48. Something yet to be gleaned. 

49. Strive for higher honor. 

50. Success waits at labor's gate. 

51. Toward the light. 

52. Thus endeth our first lesson. 

53. Up and on. 

54. Vestigia nnlla retrorsum — No steps backward. 

55. Victory beyond the stars. 

56. Victory is ours. 

57. Vincit qui se vincit — He conquers who conquers him- 

self. 

58. Virtue is the safest shield. 

59. Virtus sola cassis — Virtue is the only shield. 

60. We build the ladder by which we rise. 

61. Who thinks can conquer. 

62. Without labor there is nothing. 



A SUGGESTIVE PROGRAM 

All of the material for this program (excepting Nos. 1, 6 
and 9) will be found within the pages of this book, as indi- 
cated. 

Motto: Find a way or mahe one 

1. Music (selected). 

2. Welcome to Our Schoolroom (p. 51). 

3. Recitation— What They Taught Me (p. 25). 

4. Reading — Vacation (p. 43). 

5. Song — Education (p. 107). 

6. Essay — What Our Civics Club Has Done for Our 

School. 

7. Recitation— ^'I Got to Go to School" (p. 13). 

8. Play— Mary Lou's Recitation (p. 83). 

9. Song — The Star-Spangled Banner. 

10. Talk— Our Motto (p. 123). 

11. Farewell— A Good-by (p. 58). 

12. Song— Good-by to School (p. 110). 

125 



MORNING EXERCISES FOR ALL THE YEAR 

^A DAY BOOK FOR TEACHERS 

By Joseph C. Sindelar 

Author of Nixie Bunny in Manners-Land, 

Nixie Bunny in Workaday-Land, etc. 

This is a new work — just published — and the only really complete 
and systematic book of opening exercises that has yet been issued. 
It contains over 300 exercises, arranged day by day, there being aa 
exercise for each morning of the ten school months, beginning with 
the first day in September and ending with the last day in June. 
There is an appropriate literary quotation for each day — 303 in all, 
100 interesting stories, anecdotes and recreations, a goodly number 
of poems, many birthday exercises and those of the seasons, special 
day programs, related songs and readings, Bible references, etc. The 
exercises are in endless variety, emphasizing moral principles and 
teaching lessons of proper conduct, right thought, ideals of life, and 
the appreciation of nature, literature, science, and art. Each day 
has its own lesson and an abundance of the best material for use 
therewith. All special days and school occasions, also birthdays 
of noted men and women, are duly recorded and suitably com- 
memorated. The material is for all grades, and the teacher will 
find the book an invaluable aid in her work. 

252 pages. Cloth. Price, 85 cents 

THE BEST CHRISTMAS BOOK 

Edited by Joseph C. Sindelar 

There is nothing better or newer published in the way of Christ- 
mas entertainments. The material contained in this book is fresh 
and original, much of it having been written specially by Marie 
Irish, Harriette Wilbur, and Thos. B. Weaver. There is a wealth of 
new ideas, and a complete program for everyone. It is positively the 
"Best" book of Christmas entertainment exercises published. Ar- 
ranged according to grades. 

The following list of classified contents will show the variety and 
scope of the work. Contents : 82 recitations, 36 quotations, 4 mono- 
logues and readings, 10 dialogues, exercises and plays, 7 fancy drills 
and marches, 4 acrostics and motion songs, 3 tableaux, 4 pantomimes 
and pantomimed songs, 9 songs with music, 8 songs of new words 
to old tunes, 14 facts regarding Christmas and Christmas customs 
in other lands. 

Illustrated. 192 pages. Paper. Price, 35 cents 
BECKLEY-CARDY CO. Educational Publishers CHICAGO 



SOME NEW PUBLICATIONS 

NIXIE BUNNY IN FAEAWAY-LANDS 

By Joseph C. Sindelar. A rabbit story of the ehildiren of other 
lands and a companion volume to Nixie Bunny in Manners- 
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Holiday-Land. 80 illustrations in colors. 

160 pages. Cloth, Price, 55 cents 

A CHILD'S ROBINSON CRUSOE 

By William Lewis Mda and Stella Humphrey Nida. Defoe's 
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dren. With 37 illustrations. 

160 pages. Cloth, Price, 50 cents 

STRAIGHT-LINE SEWING CARDS 

By Bess B. Cleaveland, Fifteen farm and zoo designs, in envelop*. 
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NUMBER STORIES 

By Alhambra G. Deming. These stories are to be read to pupils 
in the intermediate grades. Their primary aim is drill in the 
essentials of arithmetic as applied to child-experience. 
205 pages. Cloth, Price, 75 cents 

NEW AMERICAN HISTORY AND GOVERN- 
MENT OUTLINES 
By A. R. McCook. For teachers and pupils; complete and 
up-to-date. 

120 large pages. Paper, Price, 35 cents 

ONE HUNDRED STORIES FOR REPRODUCTION 

By Kate Walker Grove. For use in the primary grades. 
80 pages. Paper. Price, 25 cents 

PRIMARY LANGUAGE STORIES 

By Alhambra G. Deming. On 48 cards, size 5x7 inches, with 
a manual for teachers. Illustrated. 

Price, 45 cents 

NEW COMMON-SCHOOL SONG BOOK 

By Laura Rountree Smith and Arthur Schuckai. A one-book 
course in music for schools of mixed gradee, with ieefioos fal 

the principles of music and study exercises. 

160 large pages. Boards. Price, 60 cents 

WEAVER'S NEW SCHOOL SONGS 

By Thomas B. Weaver. Provides 56 new and pleasing songa 
of great variety, for all grades. 

96 large pages. Paper, Price, 25 cents 

BECKLEY-CARDY COMPANY Publishers CHICAGO 

LbAp? 



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■ OF ALL GRADES 

Homing Exercises for All the Year. By Joseph C. Sindelar, author 
of the "Nixie Bunny" books, etc. Contains over 300 exercises, 
arranged day by day, there being an exercise for each morning 
of the ten school months, beginning with the first day in Sep- 
tember and ending with the last day in June. 252 large pages. 
Cloth. Price, 86 cents. 

language Games for All Grades. By Alhambra G. Deming, Princi- 
pal Washiigton School, Winona, Minn, Designed to establish 
the habit of correct speech and to increase the child's vocabularyo 
90 pages. Cloth. Price (with 54 cards for pupils' use), $1 .oo 

Easy Things to Draw. By D. R. Augsburg. A teacher's handbook, 
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77 large pages. Paper. Price, 40 cents. 

Simplex Class Record. The most convenient, compact and practical 
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District-School Dialogues. By Marie Irish. A collection of twenty* 
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Paper. Price, 35 cents. 

The Best Christmas Book. By Joseph C. Sindelar. Dialogues, reci- 
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Best Memory Gems. Selected and edited by Joseph C. Sindelar. Con- 
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For primary, intermediate and grammar grades. 64 pages. 
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Best Primary Songs. By Amos M. Kellogg. Nearly sixty songs for 
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128-page Illustrated Catalogue of Books mailed upon request 
SECKLEY-CARDY COMPANY Publishers CHICAGO 



LANGUAGE GAMES FOR ALL GRADES 

— — — ^^— By Alhambra G. Deming . 

Principal Washingtx)n School, Winona, Minn. 
With Introduction by J. N. Adee, Supt. of Schools, Johnstown, Pa. 

Designed to establish the habit of correct speech and to increase 
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90 pages. Cloth. Price 60 cents. 

CARDS TO ACCOMPANY LANGUAGE GAMES FOR ALL GRADES 

Fifty-three cards, size 4}/2 x 6^2 inches, for pupils' use. 
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EASY THINGS TO DRAW 

By D. R. Augsburg 
Prepared particularly as an aid to teachers who lack training in 
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77 large pages. Paper. Price, 40 cents. 

BEST PRIMARY SONGS 

By Amos M. Kellogg 
A COLLECTION of nearly sixty songs, suitable for primary and 
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have been carefully chosen and the music is attractive and simple. 
48 pages. Paper. Price, 20 cents; per dozen, $2.20 

BECKLEY-CARDY CO. Educational Publishers CHICAGO 



